BIOCHEMI
STRY
PROTEIN
S
T PROTEI
O A. GENERAL
PROTEIN N
PROPERTIES AND STRUCTURE OF
P B. CLASSIFICATIONS
FUNCTIONS
OF PROTEIN AND THEIR
I C. AMINO ACIDS AS BUILDING BLOCKS OF PROTEIN
C 1. CLASSIFICATIONS OF AMINO
ACIDS
2. ANABOLISM OF AMINO 3. CATABOLISM OF AMINO
S ACIDS ACIDS
Learning Objectives
By the end of the lesson, students will
be
Understand the general
able to: Explain the role of amino
1 properties and structure
of proteins; 3
acids as building blocks
of proteins.
Differentiate anabolism
Classify proteins and
2 describe their functions;
and
4 from the catabolism of
amino acids.
Protein
✓Protein molecules are large, complex
molecules formed by one or more
twisted and folded strands of amino
acids.
✓Proteins are polymers of amino acids
arranged in the form of polypeptide
chains.
GENERAL PROPERTIES
1. Colour and Taste
Proteins are colourless and usually tasteless. These
are homogeneous and crystalline.
2. Solubility
The solubility of proteins is influenced by pH.
Solubility is lowest at isoelectric point and
increases with increasing acidity or alkalinity.
3. Shape and Size
The proteins range in shape from simple crystalloid
spherical structures to long fibrillar structures. Two
distinct patterns of shape have been recognized :
A. Globular proteins B. Fibrous proteins
4. Colloidal Nature
Because of their giant size, the proteins exhibit many
colloidal properties, such as; Their diffusion rates are
extremely slow and they may produce considerable light-
scattering in solution, thus resulting in visible turbidity
(Tyndall effect).
5. Amphoteric Nature
Like amino acids, the proteins are amphoteric, i.e.,
they act as acids and alkalies both. These migrate in
an electric field and the direction of migration
depends upon the net charge possessed by the
molecule.
6. Denaturation
Proteins can lose their structure and function
when exposed to extreme temperatures, pH
changes, or chemicals.
STRUCTURE OF PROTEIN
PRIMARY
The primary structure is like a string of
beads, where each bead represents an
amino acid. The sequence of these
amino acids is unique to each protein
and is determined by the genetic code
SECONDARY
The secondary structure refers to the
local folded shapes that form within a
polypeptide due to hydrogen bonding.
Common shapes include alpha-helices
and beta-sheets.
TERTIARY
The tertiary structure is the overall three-
dimensional shape of a single polypeptide
chain, determined by interactions between
the side chains (R groups) of the amino
acids.
QUARTERNARY
The quaternary structure is the
arrangement and interaction of multiple
polypeptide chains (subunits) in a protein
that has more than one chain.
CLASSIFICATIONS OF PROTEINS AND
THEIR FUNCTIONS
CLASSIFICATION FUNCTION EXAMPLES
Provide support and shape to •Collagen
Structural cells and tissues. •Keratin
Contractile Involved in movement and •Myosin
muscle contraction. • Actin
Transport substances across
•Hemoglobin
Transport cell membranes or within the
•albumin
body.
CLASSIFICATION FUNCTION EXAMPLES
Store amino acids and other •Ferritin
Storag nutrients. •casein
e
•Insulin
Act as chemical messengers
Hormone • Growth
to regulate physiological
hormone
processes. •Thyroxine
Catalyze biochemical •Amylase
Enzymati reactions, speeding up •lactase
c metabolic processes. •Sucrase
CLASSIFICATION FUNCTION EXAMPLES
Recognize and destroy
Defensiv
Immunoglobulins stimulate •Immunoglobulins
e
immune •fibrinogen
Receptor
foreign substances.
Receive and transmit •GPCRs
signals within and between •Neurotransmitt
cells. er Receptors
AMINO ACID
Amino Acids are the organic
compounds that combine to form
proteins, hence they are referred to as
the building components of proteins.
AMINO ACID
Amino acids are organic compounds
containing the basic amino groups (-
NH2) and carboxyl groups (-COOH).
STRUCTURE OF AMINO
ACIDS
AMINO ACIDS AS BUILDING BLOCKS OF PROTEIN
CLASSIFICATIONS OF AMINO ACIDS
1. Essential amino acids- cannot be made by
the body.
2. Nonessential amino acids- means that our
bodies can produce the amino acid, even if
we do not get it from the food we eat.
[Link] essential amino acids- are
usually not essential, except in times of
illness and stress
