Proteins

 Proteinsare composed primarily of

carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen,and oxygen.
However, some contain sulfur.

 They
are all composed of structural
monomers called amino acids.

 Their
differences from organism to
organism is due to differences in the DNA
which contains the instructions for their
formation. Ex. Eye color, Blood type
 Proteins: Structure
 Primary structure = chain of amino acids
 Amino acids have common features

Carboxylic Acid
Amino
Group
Group

R
“Alpha”
Carbon The “R” Group
Differs for Each Amino Acid
Amino Acids: Phenylalanine Structure

Carboxylic Acid
Amino
Group
Group

“Alpha”
Carbon

Phenylalanine
“R” Group
 Amino Acids: Leucine Structure

Carboxylic Acid
Amino
Group
Group

Leucine “R”
Group
Amino Acid Variety
 Proteins
 Atoms: C, H, O, N, S
 Basic units: amino acids (20)
 Provide energy & structure, repairs body
tissues
 Some are called hormones, enzymes,
neurotransmitters, etc.
 Foods high in protein: meat, eggs, poultry,
milk & milk products, nuts, dried beans,
peas, & lentils
 Protein Functions
 Structure: Building structural components of organisms
(collagen, elastin, keratin, microtubules, microfilaments)
 Regulation of metabolic processes: Hormones (insulin)
 Carrying out of metabolic processes: Enzymes
 Membrane component: Carrier proteins, Protein pumps,
Transport of materials through membrane phospholipid
layers
 Membrane receptors: Hormone receptors and
neurotransmitter receptors.
 Levels of Protein Structure
Proteins are very complex molecules and their
shape or structure determines their function.
Most proteins have 4 levels of structure. They
are:
a. Primary Level
b. Secondary Level
c. Tertiary Level
d. Quaternary Level
If any level of structure is changed it can create
faulty or nonfunctioning proteins!
 Levels of Protein Structure
The Primary Level is
determined by the
number of amino
acids, the type of
amino acids, and
the sequence of the
amino acids in the
polypeptide chain.
 Proteins

Primary Structure Secondary Structure

 The very basic strand of amino  The hydrogen-bond

acids interaction among strands of
amino acids giving alpha
helices and beta-sheets
shapes .
 Levels of Protein Structure
The Secondary Level is
due to interactions
between amino acids in
the chain,
usually due to hydrogen
bonding between
oxygen and hydrogen
atoms in different
amino acids.
Two general forms are
taken. Alpha helix, a
spiral structure,
common in globular
proteins, or a Beta
pleated sheet structure,
common in structural
proteins.
 Levels of Protein Structure
The Tertiary Level is due to
the “folding over” of the
alpha helical or beta
pleated sheet structure
on itself.
This configuration is due
again to hydrogen
bonding, hydrophobic
interactions, ionic
bonding interactions,
and the interaction of
sulfur groups on the
variable groups of some
amino acids forming
weak interactions called
disulfide bridges.
 Levels of Protein Structure
The Quaternary Level
of structure is due to
the interactions of
more than one
polypeptide chain to
form the complete,
functional protein.
Hemoglobin and
antibodies exhibit this
level of structure.
Levels of Protein Structure