PROTEINS AND ENZYMES
Proteins
 The most abundant organic compound in living
organisms.
 Is responsible for the 15% body dry weight.
 These are polymers made up of a chain of the
basic building blocks called amino acids.
 Any class of nitrogenous organic compounds
that consist of large molecules composed of
one or more long chains of amino acids.
Amino Acids
 These are composed of carbon, hydrogen,
oxygen, nitrogen, and sometimes sulfur.
 Organisms use 20 essential amino acids for the
formation of different proteins.
 It is made up of an amino group (-NH2), a
carboxyl group (-COOH), and a hydrocarbon the
R group (side chain).
 Different amino acids differ only on their side
chain.
 Amino acids are linked by peptide bonds,
formed between the amino group of one amino
acid and the carboxyl group of the next.
 A peptide or polypeptide is a chain of amino
acids linked by peptide bonds.
 Different combination of 20 amino acids are
responsible for the variety of proteins in living
organisms.
A human body is capable of producing about 12
amino acids to form proteins.
Essential Amino Acids
 These are amino acids that cannot synthesize.
 Either directly or indirectly obtained from other
animal and plant sources.
 Food sources rich in proteins: meat, fish, beans,
nuts, milk products, flour, and certain
vegetables.
Observing balanced diet is important to provide the
body with adequate 20 essential amino acids for the
growth and maintenance of the body’s activities.
Typical mammalian cell may contain 10,000
different kinds of protein working on diverse array of
functions.
Important Proteins in the Body
1. Structural Proteins
 The most abundant class of proteins in
nature which are fibrous and stringy
and because of this formation.
 Its main function is to provide
mechanical support. On a larger scale,
they also allow the body to move.
 Keratin: hair, quills, feathers, horns,
beaks.
 Collagen is the most abundant
mammalian protein and the main
component of connective tissues.
 Elastin: Arteries, Lungs, Bladder, Skin,
Elastic Ligaments Cartilage
2. Enzymatic Proteins
 All chemical processes in the body need
a large amount of energy (needs several
hundred degree centigrade).
 Human body temperature is 37°C and
any slight increase in temperature can
be fatal.
 Special types of proteins called enzymes
catalyze or speed up chemical reactions
at low temperatures.
 All enzymatic proteins are Globular
Proteins with a specific Tertiary Shape.
 Active Site: The part of the Enzyme that
acts a Catalyst. The rest of the Enzyme
is much larger and is involved
in maintaining the specific shape of the
enzyme.
How do enzymes work?
 The Activation Energy of a reaction is
lowered by putting stress on
the bonds within a molecule, or
by holding molecules close together.
This increases the likelihood of a
reaction, and
so lowers the energy required to begin
it.
 Food digestion involves different
enzymes, like amylase for starch,
protease for protein, and lipase for
lipid.
Characteristics of Enzymatic Proteins
a. Enzymes are highly specific. An enzyme can
catalyze only a specific chemical reaction. The
enzyme maltase specifically catalyzes the
breakdown of maltose into simple sugars.
b. Enzymes are required in minute amounts. One type of white blood cells called B
molecule of catalase can breakdown of five lymphocytes in response to an antigen.
million molecules of hydrogen peroxide in one  Antigen: foreign substance in the body
second.  A particular antibody can only recognize
a specific antigen.
c. Enzyme reactions are affected by temperature.
 Antibody destroys disease-causing cells
Most enzymes are active only at body
via cell lysis or by aggregating the cells
temperature (37°C), but become inactive at
via agglutination.
very low temperature. Different enzymes hare
 Antibody can also detoxify foreign
optimum working temperatures.
substances that may cause damage or
d. Enzyme reactions are affected by pH. Amylase death to affected cells.
works best at pH 7 and becomes denatured or  Immunoglobulin: found in blood and
destroyed, at highly acidic or basic conditions. fluids, controls infections of body
tissues, IgG is most abundant.
e. Enzymes are affected by substrate
concentration. Increasing Substrate
5. Regulatory/Signal Proteins
Concentration increases the rate of reaction.
 Hormones are signal proteins that
This is because more substrate molecules will
regulate body functions.
be colliding with enzyme molecules, so more
 Growth factors are proteins that
product will be formed.
influence the growth and development
3. Transport Proteins of an organism.
 Within cell membrane and forms a  Insulin: hormone that regulates the
channel in order to move substances glucose concentration in the blood.
into and out of the cell.  Usually in the form of troponin and
 Selective about transporting substances tropomyosin.
 Ions (sodium and potassium), sugars
6. Contractile Proteins
(glucose), proteins, messenger
molecules, etc.  These proteins are found in cells to
allow movement and cause muscle
 Hemoglobin in red blood cells for
contraction.
oxygen transport are examples.
 They also help regulate body
 Assist in either facilitated diffusion or
temperature.
active transport
 Contractile proteins are in the form of
 Channel Protein: opens holes in the
actin and myosin.
membrane, only one specific substance
can pass through, used in passive  Animals are capable of locomotory
transport, either open or gated, it is movement and substance movement
always open-others are gated and must inside the body due to the action of
be opened for passage (in some tissues). contractile proteins.
 Carrier proteins: only open at one side
7. Storage Proteins
at once, use energy to change shape,
used in active transport, open at one  These proteins serve as reserves of
side because they transport substances amino acids and metal ions for future
against their concentration gradient, use.
substance might flow back out instead  They are important in the growth,
of flowing in (if open at both sides), development, and maintenance of
binds the substance and moves it to the organisms.
other side.  These proteins are found in egg whites
(albumin), plant seeds, and milk.
4. Defense Proteins
 Plays an important role in the body’s
defense system against antibody.
 Antibody: disease-causing foreign
organisms and particles like bacteria
and virus. It is produced by a specific