Chapter 2 (pt. 2: amino acids and protein) Flashcards
(146 cards)
What are the monomers of proteins?
Amino acids.
How many different amino acids exist?
20
What are the three important functional groups attached to the central carbon atom of an amino acid?
1) Amino group (—NH2), 2) Acidic carboxyl group (—COOH), 3) Side chain (R group).
How are the amino and carboxyl groups of amino acids affected at normal body pH?
They are both ionized.
What gives each amino acid its distinctive chemical identity?
The different side chains (R groups).
What distinguishes glycine among amino acids?
It is the simplest amino acid, with a side chain that is just a hydrogen atom.
What is unique about cysteine?
It contains sulfur in its side chain and is one of only two amino acids with this element.
Describe the structure of tyrosine.
It has a side chain that contains a six-carbon aromatic ring.
What characteristic does lysine have?
It has an additional amino group at the end of its side chain, which gives it basic properties.
What are structural proteins?
Proteins that form the framework of body parts.
Give two examples of structural proteins and their locations.
Collagen (in bones and connective tissues) and keratin (in skin, hair, and nails).
What do regulatory proteins do?
They act as hormones and neurotransmitters to regulate body processes and growth.
Name two examples of regulatory proteins and their functions.
Insulin (regulates blood glucose) and Substance P (mediates pain).
What is the function of contractile proteins?
They enable muscle contraction and movement.
Give two examples of contractile proteins.
Myosin and actin.
What are immunological proteins responsible for?
They help protect the body from foreign substances and pathogens.
Name two examples of immunological proteins.
Antibodies and interleukins.
What is the role of transport proteins?
They carry essential substances throughout the body.
Provide an example of a transport protein.
Hemoglobin (transports oxygen and carbon dioxide).
What are catalytic proteins also known as?
Enzymes
Name two examples of catalytic proteins.
Salivary amylase and sucrase.
How are proteins synthesized?
By sequentially joining amino acids through peptide bonds.
Describe how a peptide bond is formed.
A covalent bond forms between the carbon in the carboxyl group of one amino acid and the nitrogen in the amino group of another, releasing a molecule of water (dehydration synthesis).
What is the process of breaking a peptide bond called?
Hydrolysis reaction, as seen during protein digestion.