Lecture 5 - Elements of Protein Structure Flashcards
(40 cards)
In proteins and peptides, amino acids are joined together by
peptide bonds
Levels of protein structure
Primary
Secondary
Tertiary
Quaternary
Primary structure
Amino acid sequence (chain)
Secondary structure
Local 3D stretch of residues
Tertiary structure
(3D) structure of a complete
protein chain
Series of helices connected by loops
Global fold
Quaternary structure
More than 1 protein chains packed together
Φ phi angle
angle around the N–Ca bond
Ψ psi angle
angle around the Ca–C’ bond
Protein structures Begin to fold when
Amino acid residues emerge from the ribosomes
Fold locally then globally
How do the protein structures fold?
Do it themselves
Rotate around the flexible bonds that connect them.
Some bonds can be flexible or rigid
Main chain bonds
N (in peptide bond)
Cα (sidechain attached to it)
C’ (carbonyl carbon. Attached to the double bonded oxygen)
C’
carbonyl carbon.
Attached to the double bonded oxygen
Main chain bond angles:
Φ phi angle
Ψ psi angle
How much rotation there is around the single bonds.
0 - 180 & -180 - 0
To figure out the orientation of a peptide and what direction its going. Look for…
amide nitrogen (H and Cα attached)
Peptides move from
amino terminus to the carboxyl terminus
Bond between amide nitrogen and Cα
Phi Φ angle
Single bond free rotation
Bond between Cα to C’
Psi Ψ angle
Residue 1
Phi 1
Psi 1
When a protein is completely flat
All angles are 180 degrees
Peptide bonds
Stiff
Rigid
Not very flexible
Phi and Psi restrictions
Steric hinderance
rotate around Phi and Psi bonds, collisions can occur
If rotate around the Phi Φ angle
2 oxygens will collide
o has vanderwaal radius, certain distance that can’t get any closer
If rotate around the Psi Ψ angle
Amide Nitrogens (NH) will collide.
The combination of all the rotation and twists around the flexible peptide bond leads to…
3D structure which in turn leads to its function.