As/A level Bio : Chapter three - Proteins and nucleic acids Flashcards
What are the elements present in proteins
Carbon, oxygen, hydrogen and nitrogen (some contain sulphur)
What is the R group
A side chain that acts as a functional group as it helps to determine the shape of the polypeptide and so it’s final function.
What is the bond between amino acids called
Peptide bonds
What is a poly peptide
A polymer that is a chain of amino acids, joined by a covalent bond called a peptide bond
What are the four levels of protein structure ?
Primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary
What is the primary structure of a protein
The sequence, type, and number of the amino acids in the polypeptide chain.
What is the secondary structure of proteins
Once the primary chain formed the protein takes shape due to certain bonds between acids in the chain.
What are the two secondary shapes ?
Alpha helix and beta pleated sheets
What is the tertiary structure of proteins
The three dimensional shape that occurred when the secondary structure becomes further coiled into a more complex shape
What are the two mains types of tertiary structured proteins
Globular and fibrous
What is quaternary structure
A protein formed of two or more polypeptide chains
What is a prosthetic group
A non-protein part of a protein that is permanently attached to the molecule and is vital for the normal functioning of the molecule
