Proteins Flashcards
What are proteins?
They are major structural materials of animal tissue.
What are enzymes?
Enzymes are proteins that act as biological catalysts.
How are proteins formed?
By the condensation of amino acids
What two functional groups do amino acids contain?
Amine (-NH2) and Carboxyl (-COOH)
What is an essential amino acid?
An essential amino acid is an amino acid that we have to acquire from our diets as our body cannot make them.
What link forms between two amino acids?
Peptide/Amide Link -CONH-
What happens during the digestion of proteins?
Proteins are broken up via hydrolysis to produce amino acids. During this, the N-C bond in the peptide link is broken.
What happens when proteins are heated?
The intermolecular forces holding them together are broken, which denatures the protein (changes its shape)
