Proteins Flashcards
midterm 1
Protein roles in the body (6 of them)
- mechanical support
- control of growth & differentiation
- catalysis
- transport/storage
- nerve propagation
- immune protection
Protein roles in the eye (5 of them)
- support structure & clarity of the cornea
- participate in variable light refraction of the lens
- initiate transduction of light into electric signaling
- generate IOP
- lyse bacteria in the precornial tear film
peptide bond
-covalent bond between amino group of one AA and the carboxylate group of another
-dehydration synthesis (condensation rxn): H2O molecule is released
peptide bond properties in proteins
partial double-bond character, rigid and planar, trans configuration, uncharged but polar
what causes protein degradation in the body? lens? cornea?
- proteases
- caspases
- matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)
Protein structure
defines the function, determined by the sequence of AA
Primary structure of a protein
a unique sequence of amino acids
required for understanding:
1. structure of a protein
2. mechanism of action/function
3. relationship to other proteins w/ similar physiological roles
secondary structure of a protein
“local folding” from repeated H bonding within a chain
common arrangements: a-helix, B-pleated sheets
globular vs fibrous protein structure
globular: mixed secondary structure
fibrous: mainly one kind of secondary structure
alpha helix structure
- stabilized by hydrogen bonds between atoms of the polypeptide back bone
- very stable
- R-groups are outside the helix
-ex. keratin
Beta sheet
- H bonding to adjacent chains
-gives a flattened structure - either parallel or antiparallel
tertiary structure
-entire 3D structure of a single-chain polymer
-refers to final arrangement of domains
- stabilized by side chains: ionic bridges, H bonds, disulfide bonds, hydrophobic interactions
quaternary structure
spatial arrangement of a macromolecule’s individual subunits
protein denaturation definition
protein alteration from its native form
- unfolding and disorganization of a protein’s secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures
- WITHOUT hydrolysis
protein denaturation causes and result
causes: heat, detergents, strong acids/bases
results: loses function, may be reversible though
molecular chaperones
chaperones bind reversibly to unfolded polypeptide segments and prevent misfolding/premature aggregation
heat shock proteins
major class of molecular chaperones
- synthesized in response to heat shock, or other stresses in cells
fibrous protein
proteins characterized by polypeptide chains in a stiff, elongated strand or sheet, tend to form fibers
fibrous examples and function
keratin, collagen, elastin
- resist stretching and provide shape and tensile strength
- structural role, rather than dynamic
collagen structure
collagen molecule: 3 alpha-chain polypeptides coiled around each other (triple helix)
collagen fibril: many collagen molecules
collagen fibers: may collagen fibrils