Proteins Flashcards
What are proteins?
They are organic molecules that contain carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen and sulphur.
What’s the monomer of proteins?
Amino acid
What’s the polymer of amino acids?
Protein (polypeptide)
What’s the bonds in proteins?
Peptide bond
How many bases make 1 amino acid?
3
What are the functions of proteins?
Haemoglobin to transport oxygen.
Hormones to act as protein messengers e.g. Insulin.
Antibodies to fight off invading infections.
Collagen and keratin for structure in bones, tendons and skin.
Enzymes which catalyse reactions.
How many different amino acids do humans have?
20
What is an amino acid made up of?
A carboxyl group, an amine group, a variable group and a hydrogen.
How are amino acids joined?
By a condensation reaction and linked by a peptide bond.
What’s the primary structure of amino acids?
The amino acids sequence, the order in which the amino acids are in, it controls the final 3D structure.
What’s the secondary structure of amino acids?
The coiling and folding of the primary structure which is created with hydrogen bonds, there are two types alpha helix and beta pleated sheets.
What happens in the alpha helix structure?
Hydrogen bonds hold the strands in place
What happens in beta pleated sheets?
Hydrogen bonds hold the coils and folds in place.
What’s the tertiary structure in amino acids?
Further folding and twisting which is all down to the order from the primary structure, the further coils and folds are held together by hydrogen bonds, ionic bonds, disulphide bridges and hydrophobic interaction.
Where are the bonds formed in the tertiary structure?
Between R groups.
