Proteins and Chromatin Structure Flashcards
amino acid side chain (R group) properties
- shape, folding
- protein charge (local and overall)
- enzymatic properties
- modification sites
- H bonding properties
- hydrophilic vs hydrophobic
general amino acid structure
amine group (+ve)
alpha carbon (connected to R group)
carboxylic acid carbon (functional carbon)
proteins sorted by R group: categories:
- acidic
- basic
- nonpolar
- polar (uncharged): H bonds
- aromatic
which protein/gene always at start of protein seq?
methionine (Met)
AUG/ATG
protein primary structure
- bonded by peptide bonds (covalent), H2O = byproduct
protein secondary structure
H-donor, O-acceptor
held by H bonds only
protein tertiary structure
(need in order to be functional)
- hydrophobic parts tend to clump inside
quaternary structure
multi-subunit protein
- tertiary structures are its subunits
diff protein functions
- defense
- transport
- communication
- storage
- enzymes
- structure
protein activity control
first step: post-translational modification (covalent) and transport
- not dictated by DNA or genome (unlike primary->quaternary structures)
- epigenetic
- N-terminal like 5’ end of gene
(N-terminal TO C-terminal)
polypeptide means
unfolded proteins
primary (structure) means?
nascent
native = functional; nascent = unfunctional
protein modifications for transport
(modifications necessary for transport from cytoplasm, where translation takes place)
- proteins that are membrane bound or destined for secretion (e.g., receptors and protein hormones) are synthesized by ribosomes associated with ER membranes
– the ER associated with ribosomes is rough ER (RER)
- this class of proteins all contain a N-terminus signal seq or signal peptide; transport is co-translational (N-terminus starts entering ER WHILE rest of peptide still being made by ribosomes)
- proteins destined for organelles: diff signal seq at N-terminus
protein modifications (11)
- proteolytic cleavage
- phosphorylation
- sulfation
- acylation or acetylation
- glycosylation
- methylation
- prenylation
- vitamin C-dependent modifications
- vitamin K-dependent modifications
- ubiquitin (ubiquitination)
- control of protein stability
proteolytic cleavage
proteolytic cleavage: most proteins undergo this following translation
- simplest form - removal of first methionine
phosphorylation
phosphorylation
- post-translational phosphorylation one of most common modifications
- occurs as a mechanism to regulate protein activity
– transient (non permanent): phosphate (1 or more) is added and later removed (or transferred to other protein); gives 2 -ve charges per phosphate
- enzymes involved:
– kinases: transfer a phosphate group form donor (ATP) to acceptor (protein) (adds phosphate)
– phosphorylases: transfer a phosphate group form an inorganic phosphate (adds phosphate)
– phosphatases: remove phosphates
in animal cells, SERINE, THREONINE, and TYROSINE are AAs subject to phosphorylation (-OH group = phosphorylation site)
sulfation
- sulfate modification of proteins occurs at tyrosine residues
- since sulfate is necessary for biological activity, it is added permanently and NOT for regulatory modificaiton
acylation or acetylation
- in most cases, acetyl group is added to N-terminal AA (after first Met is removed)
- Acetyl-Coa is acetyl donor
Glycosylation
- glycoproteins consist of proteins with covalently linked sugars
– consensus AA for addition: Asn - X - Ser/Thr
(X is any AA except Pro)
Asn = asparagine
– sugars are modified
– major mechanisms for cell surface identification
Methylation
- post-translational methylation occurs at lysine residues in some proteins
- activated methyl donor is S-adenosylmethionine
- ex. cytochrome c and calmodulin
Prenylation
- addition of compounds derived from cholesterol biosynthetic pathway, hydrophobic fatty acid chains (membrane anchoring)
- can make more non-polar
- ex. Ras
Vitamin C-dependent modifications
- modifications of proteins that depend on vit C as a cofactor
- ex. collagens and peptide hormones like oxytocin and vasopressin
Vitamin K-dependent modifications
- vit K is a cofactor in carboxylation of glutamine residues
– carboxylation adds a carboxyl group - protein can chelate calcium ions (chelate - arresting)
- ex. some anticoagulants
control of protein stability
- some proteins are rapidly degraded, whereas others are highly stable
- specific AA seq in some proteins have been shown to promote rapid degradation (recognized by peptidases/proteases)
ubiquitin (ubiquitination)
- covalent post-translational addition
- addition of ubiquitin protein via Lys residues (7 Lys)
- Mono-: can be a location signal for membrane transport
- Poly-: signal for proteolysis
DNA, RNA, protein structure summary
- nucleic acids use nitrogenous bases (DNA -> RNA = transcription)
- proteins use amino acids (mRNA -> protein = translation)
- DNA is highly regulated, rarely modified, relatively permanent - very few intentional modifications after replication
- RNA is highly regulated, modifiable, transient
- protein is highly regulated, modifiable, transient
chromatin = ?
protein + DNA