Proteins and enzymes - 2 Flashcards
What are the roles of proteins?
Structural
Catalytic
Cell signalling
Immunological
What is the general structure of amino acids?
Contains an amine group, R group and a carboxylic acid group
What bonds hold together amino acids?
Peptide bonds
What molecule is produced from two amino acids
A dipeptide
What is a polypeptide
When more amino acids are added to a dipeptide a polypeptide is formed
What is the primary structure of proteins?
The order of amino acids, held together by peptide bonds.
What is the secondary structure of proteins?
Areas of initial folding
Held together by hydrogen bonds
Contains alpha helices and beta pleated sheets
What is the tertiary structure of proteins?
Interactions of the R groups.
The tertiary structure is the 3D shape
Maintained by 4 types of bond/interaction
- Hydrogen bonds
- Disulphide bridges
- Ionic Bonds
- Hydrophobic interactions
What is the quaternary structure
When two or more polypeptides join together
Or there is a prosthetic group
A conjugated protein is a globular protein with a prosthetic group
What are globular proteins
Usually have a spherical shape caused by tightly folded polypeptide chains
Hydrophobic groups on the inside and hydrophilic groups on the outside
Examples of globular proteins
Transport proteins - haemoglobin
Enzymes
Hormones - insulin
Describe the structure of haemoglobin
4 polypeptide chain subunits
- 2 alpha chains
- 2 beta chains
Each subunit contains a haem group containing Fe2+
Soluble
Describe the structure of amylase
Single chain of amino acids
Secondary structure has alpha helices and beta pleated sheets
Needs the cofactor Cl-
Soluble
Describe the structure of insulin
Two amino acid chains joined by disulphide bonds
What are fibrous proteins
Formed by parallel polypeptide chains held together by cross-links. these form long rope-like fibres
They have a high tensile strength and are generally soluble