Proteins Flashcards
Aliphatic
Side chains are non-polar and hydrophobic
Aromatic
Planar unsaturated ring of atoms
Sulphur containing
Disulphide bonds-Cysteine
Basic
Side chain has neutral PH Lysine, Arginine, Histidine
Acidic
Negatively charged side chain- Aspartate and Glutamate
Uncharged Polar
Serine, Threonine, Asparagine and Glutamine
Primary Structure
Polypeptide chain
Secondary Structure
Alpha helix
Beta sheets
Local folded structures that form within a polypeptide due to interactions between atoms of the backbone
Tertiary Structure
3-Dimensional structure of a polypeptide
Forces within tertiary structure
Hydrogen bonds Hydrophobic interactions Disulphide bridge Ionic interactions Van der Waals
Hydrogen bonds
1/20 of covalent bonds
similar to Van der Waals but stronger and more permanent
Hydrophobic interactions
Interactions which exclude water- globular protein
Disulphide
Interaction between two cysteine molecules
Ionic
Occur between two oppositely charged R groups (side chains)
Van der Waals
non-specific, weak attraction, stabilise structure in large number
Quaternary Structure
Multiple polypeptide chains
Haemoglobin
Quaternary
2 alpha
2 beta
Protein denaturation
Disruption and possible destruction of both secondary and tertiary structures
Primary structure remains
Causes of protein denaturation
Acids Heat Solvents (ethanol, methanol) Cross linking reagents (formaldehyde) Urea Disulphide bond reducers
Effects of Denaturation (4)
Decreased solubility
Altered water binding capacity
Loss of biological activity
Improved digestibility
Peptidases
Cleavage of peptide bonds
Endopeptidases
Cleavage on internal bonds
Exopeptidases
Cleavage of amino acid one at a time
Carboxypeptidases
Cleavage at -COOH terminal