Three Dimensional Structure And Function Flashcards
What are the various classes of proteins described in Chapter 3?
Globular proteins and fibrous proteins
The terms globular proteins and fibrous proteins are rarely used in modern scientific publications. There are many proteins that don’t fit into either category.
How are Escherichia coli proteins separated?
By two-dimensional gel electrophoresis
Proteins from E. coli cells are separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. In the first dimension, the proteins are separated by a pH gradient where each protein migrates to its isoelectric point. The second dimension separates proteins by size on an SDS-polyacrylamide gel. Each spot corresponds to a single polypeptide. There are about 4000 different proteins in E. coli, but some of them are present in very small quantities and can’t be seen on this 2-D gel. This figure is from the Swiss-2D PAGE database. You can visit this site and click on any one of the spots to find out more about a particular protein.
What is proteomics?
The study of large sets of proteins
The study of large sets of proteins is called proteomics.
What are examples of fibrous proteins?
a-keratin and collagen
Examples of fibrous proteins are a-keratin, the major component of hair and nails, and collagen, the major protein component of tendons, skin, bones, and teeth. Other examples of structural proteins include the protein components of viruses, bacteriophages, spores, and pollen.
