Proteins Flashcards
What are the 4 main functions of proteins?
- defence: external covering (hair,skin) and immunity (antibodies)
- structure: coordinated movement (muscle) and mechanical support (silk)
- catalysis-enzymes
- transport (e.g. oxygen via haemoglobin)
Describe the basic structure of an amino acid
- central alpha carbon, bound to a hydrogen
- R group/side chain (variable)
- amino group (NH2)
- carboxyl group (carbon with double bond to O and bond to OH)
- tetrahedral molecule
- chiral = different molecules with same groups but arranged differently (mirror images)
Describe the relationship between the carboxyl group and amine group of amino acids
Acidic carboxyl group has tendency to lose proton
Basic amine group has tendency to gain a proton
Normal configuration of amino acid
L-configuration (left handed)n
D-configuration (right handed) exist but not in proteins encoded for by DNA
Describe amino acid glycine
Abbreviations: G, gly
R = H
Simplest amino acid
Describe amino acid alanine
Abbreviations = Ala, A
R = CH3
Used for biosynthesis of proteins
Describe amino acid serine
Abbreviations: Ser, S
R = CH2OH
needed for the metabolism of fats, fatty acids, and cell membranes; muscle growth; and a healthy immune system
Describe amino acid cysteine
Abbreviations: Cys, C
R= CH2SH
Important structural role in a lot of enzymes
Describe amino acid histidine
Abbreviations: His, H
R = ring structure with 2 nitrogen groups
Zwitterion
Amino acid containing 2 ions, one with a positive charge and one with a negative charge = neutral overall
Isoelectric point of amino acids and equation
Isoelectric point = point along the PH scale where an amino acid has a net 0 charge
PI (isoelectric point) = (PKa 1 (equilibrium constant of acid) + PKa 2 (equilibrium constant of base)) / 2
Describe how amino acids bond
- carboxyl group of one amino acid interacts with amine group of another amino acid = peptide bond + H2O molecule released
- Double bonds between backbone C and O delocalise and peptide bond becomes partial double bond = stops rotation
- Central carbon atom held in backbone by 2 rotatable bonds: psi and phi (dihedral angles)
- most psi/phi rotations impossible as 2 atoms cannot occupy the same space
- one end of chain has free H3N+ = n terminal and other has free COO- = C terminal
What are the 2 secondary structures of proteins
Alpha helix
Beta sheet
Describe hydrogen bonding in structure
Forms between lone pair of an oxygen atom (in the double bond with C) and hydrogen atom (attached to nitrogen atom) of amino group of another peptide
Protein backbone segments involved in hydrogen bonding can be 2 segments from 2 different backbones or the same backbone that’s folded up on itself
Individually weak but cumulatively strong
Describe alpha helix structure
H bonded: orientated parallel to axis of the helix
Carbonyl 1 links to amino 5 etc (n+4 linkage)
3.6 residues a turn
Easy to stretch but rigid side to side
R groups point away from centre of spiral = free to interact with other parts of protein
R groups project 100 degrees to preceding one
Helix formers and e.g’s (8)
Certain amino acids with a high propensity to be in alpha helixes E.g. glutamate Glutamine Alanine Histidine Methionine Leucine Lysine Arginine
Helix breaker and e.g. (1)
Amino acids that dont have geometry required to be part of an alpha helix so will break the chain e.g. proline: R group bonds back to N terminus so cannot rotate and make coil structure
Helix destabilisers and e.g. (1)
Amino acids that dont always form alpha helixes e.g. tyrosine
What are the 2 types of beta sheet?
Parallel and anti-parallel
Describe the structure of an anti parallel beta sheet
The beta sheets run in opposite directions
- stabilise via hydrogen bonding (h bonds to O)
- Will be carbonyl and amino groups facing outwards allowing for more strands to bond
- anti parallel H bonds are pretty straight so are fairly strong
- if B pleated sheet only involves 1 molecule than several U turns will be made (common)
- strands inter digitate (fit like Lego)
Describe silk fibroin
- made from anti parallel beta sheets
- highly insoluble
- fibrous protein
- produced mainly by silk worms
- 90% aa’s are glycine (projects up) and alanine (projects down)
- useful biomaterial (fibre and film)
- wont stretch in longitudinal direction but very flexible laterally
Describe parallel beta sheets
Strands running in the same direction
H bonds not quite so parallel so not as stable
(Can have a mix of parallel and non parallel = mixed beta sheets)
Describe structural motifs
Short segments of 3D protein that are spatially close but not always adjacent in the sequence.
- in a large number of proteins
- may play structural or functional role
Give 3 examples of structural motifs
triosephosphate isomerase
- repeating a and b strands = barrel like structure
- metabolic enzyme and also contributes towards production of products that alter proteins, DNA and lipids
Myoglobin:
- iron and oxygen binding protein
- found in vertebrate muscle tissue
Immunoglobulin (IgG)
- type of antibody
- formed from 4 different polypeptide chains
