Amino Acids and Proteins

Prepared by:
Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi), MSMT cand.
Our Lady of Fatima University – Pampanga
College of Medical Laboratory Science
Biochemistry (CHM 123)

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

Characteristics of Proteins:
• Naturally-occurring, unbranched polymer in which
the monomer units are amino acids
•
• Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen, & Sulfur
• 15.4% by mass (average nitrogen content)
•

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

Characteristics of Proteins:
• A protein is a peptide in which at least
40 amino acid residues are present:

 Common proteins contain 400–500 AA residues
 Small proteins contain 40–100 AA residues

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

Characteristics of Proteins:
• More than one polypeptide chain may be present:
– Monomeric: Contains one polypeptide chain
–

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

Characteristics of Proteins:
Chemical Composition
Simple proteins:
• A protein in which only amino acid residues are present:

Albuminoids - keratin in skin, hair, nails;

collagen in cartilage
Albumins - egg albumin, serum albumin
Globulins -
Histones -

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

Characteristics of Proteins:
Chemical Composition
Conjugated proteins:
• Protein that has one or more non-amino acid entities
(prosthetic groups) present in its structure:

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

Characteristics of Proteins:
Based on Shape
Fibrous proteins:
•
• Long, rod-shaped or string-like molecules
•
• Structural functions

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

Characteristics of Proteins:
Based on Shape
Globular proteins:
• Folded into spherical or globular shapes
•
• Polar amino acids are on the surface
•
•

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

Characteristics of Proteins:
Based on Shape

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

Characteristics of Proteins:
Based on Function
• Play crucial roles in most biochemical processes.
• The diversity of functions exhibited by proteins far
exceeds the role of other biochemical molecules
• The functional versatility of proteins stems from:
–
–
–

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

Characteristics of Proteins:
Based on Function
Major Categories
1. Catalytic proteins: Enzymes are best
known for their catalytic role.
2. Defense proteins: Immunoglobulin or
antibodies are central to functioning of
the body’s immune system.

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

Characteristics of Proteins:
Based on Function
Major Categories
3. Transport proteins: Bind small biomolecules, e.g.,
oxygen and other ligands, and transport them to other
locations in the body and release them on demand.
4. Messenger proteins: Transmit signals to coordinate
biochemical processes between different cells, tissues,
and organs.
–
–

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

Characteristics of Proteins:
Based on Function
Major Categories
5. Contractile proteins:
– Muscles contain filament-like contractile proteins
–
6. Structural proteins:
– Collagen is a component of cartilage
–

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

Characteristics of Proteins:
Based on Function
Major Categories
7. Transmembrane proteins:
– Help molecules to enter and exist the cell.
–
8. Storage proteins:
– Ferritin - an iron-storage protein
–

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

Characteristics of Proteins:
Based on Function
Major Categories
9. Regulatory proteins:
– Often the molecules that bind to enzymes (catalytic
proteins), thereby turning them “on” and “off,” and
thus controlling enzymatic action.
10. Nutrient proteins: .
– Casein (milk) and ovalalbumin (egg white)
–

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

Amino Acids:
Building Blocks for Proteins
• The position of carbon atom is Alpha ()
•
• COOH group is attached at alpha () carbon atom.
•

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

Amino Acids:
Nomenclature
• Three letter abbreviations
– First letter of amino acid name is compulsory and
capitalized followed by next two letters not
capitalized except in the case of Asparagine (Asn),
Glutamine (Gln) and tryptophan (Trp).
• One letter symbols
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–

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)
Amino Acids:
Building Blocks for Proteins
• All amino acids differ from one another by their R-groups
–
• Standard amino acids are divided into four groups based
on the properties of R-groups
• Non-polar amino acids: R-groups are non-polar
–
–
– When present in proteins, they are located in the
interior of protein where there is no polarity

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

Amino Acids:
Non-Polar Amino Acids

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

 21

Amino Acids:
Building Blocks for Proteins
• Polar amino acids: R-groups are polar
– Polar neutral; Polar acidic; and Polar basic
• Polar-neutral: contains polar but neutral side chains
–
• Polar acidic: Contain carboxyl group
– Two amino acids belong to this category
• Polar basic: Contain amino group
–

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

Amino Acids:
Polar Neutral Amino Acids

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

Amino Acids:
Polar Acidic Amino Acids:

Polar Basic Amino Acids:

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

Amino Acids:
Derived Amino Acids
•
• Formed by an enzyme-facilitated reaction on a common
amino acid after that amino acid has been incorporated
into a protein structure
•
• Hydroxyproline, and hydroxylysine found in collagen
•

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

Amino Acids:
Essential Amino Acids
• Essential amino acid: a standard amino acid
needed for protein synthesis that must be obtained
from dietary sources

Essential Amino Acids

Arginine Methionine
Phenylalanine
Isoleucine
Tryptophan
Lysine

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

Amino Acids:
Essential Amino Acids
• Complete protein

• Incomplete protein
 Low in one or more of the essential amino acids,
usually lysine, tryptophan, or methionine


Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

Amino Acids:
Essential Amino Acids
• Complementary proteins
 Incomplete proteins which when served together,
complement each other and provide all the essential
amino acids

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

Chirality and Amino Acids:
• Four different groups are attached to the
a-carbon atom in all of the standard amino
acids except glycine
•

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

Chirality and Amino Acids:
• Molecules with chiral centers exhibit enantiomerism
• Amino acids found in nature as well as in proteins
are L isomers

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

Amino Acids:
Acid-Base Properties
• In pure form amino acids are white crystalline solids
•
• Not very soluble in water
• Under physiological conditions exists as Zwitterions:

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

Amino Acids:
Acid-Base Properties
•
•

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

Amino Acids:
Acid-Base Properties
Isoelectric point (pl)
• Amino acids in solution exist in three different species
(zwitterions, positive ion, and negative ion)

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

Amino Acids:
Acid-Base Properties
Isoelectric point (pl)
• pH at which the concentration of Zwitterion is maximum
– net charge is zero
–
–

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

Amino Acids:
Acid-Base Properties
• At pH values lower than pI, the carboxylate end of the
zwitterion picks up a proton from solution, the amino
acid acquires a net + charge, and migrate to the
negative electrode in an electric field.

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

Amino Acids:
Acid-Base Properties
• At pH values higher than pI, a proton is removed from
the ammonium end of the zwitterion, the amino acid
acquires a net negative(-) charge and migrate to the
negative electrode

Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)

Amino acids and Proteins 1

Prepared by:
Nelven M. Gallego, RMT, MLS(ASCPi), MSMT cand.
Our Lady of Fatima University – Pampanga Campus
College of Medical Laboratory Science
Biochemistry (CHM 123)

NELVEN M. GALLEGO, RMT, MLS(ASCPi)