Proteins

Essential to the structures and

activities of life
 Proteins
• are polymers constructed from amino acid
monomers
• Have many functions in the body
including:
• Enzymes—catalyze reactions
• Transport—hemoglobin (oxygen trans.)
• Storage of food—ovalbumin, seeds, milk
 Functions (con’t)
• Structural support—hair, nails, silk,
collagen
• Hormones—insulin, growth hormone
• Contraction—muscle
• Defense—antibodies
• Receptors—cell response to stimuli
Amino Acids and Peptide Bonds
• There are 20 different amino acids
• Each has the same basic structure:
 Peptide Bonds
• Amino Acids are held together by covalent
bonds called peptide bonds.
• The reaction is a dehydration reaction
(water is removed)
• A chain can form: a polypeptide; most
are at least 100 a.a. in length
 Protein Shape and Function
• A protein’s shape (structure) determines
its function.
• Denaturation: when a protein unravels
and loses its shape and thus, its function.
Can be caused by:
– High temperatures
– Changes in pH
– Changes in salt concentration
 4 Levels of Protein Structure
Level Description Bonds
Involved
Primary Amino acid Peptide bonds
sequence
Secondary Alpha helices; H-bonds along
beta-pleated backbone
sheets
Tertiary Folding into a 3-D R-group
structure interactions; S-S
bridges
Quaternary 2 or more Asso. Of the
polypeptides subunits (H-
bonds)