Upon having completed proteins and amino acids there are a few facts i would like to highlight, as well as I would like to share the things that I have learnt.
THE BASIC STRUCTURE OF AN AMINO ACID IS SHOWN BELOW:
An alpha carbon is bonded to four different groups:
- A hydrogen atom (H)
- A Carboxyl group (-COOH)
- An Amino group (-NH2)
- A “variable” group/ R group.
Proteins are organic compounds, which are made up of AMINO ACIDS that are linked by peptide bonds, and the chains are cross linked by sulfhydryl bonds as well as hydrogen bonding.
There are 2 kinds of amino acids; essential and non essential
Essential amino acids are those that cannot be produced by the body and must be supplied by the diet. e.g. valine, lysine. histidine.
Non essential amino acids are those than CAN be made by the body. e.g. alanine.
Proteins are so complex that there are various ways it can be constructed and are found in Biological molecules.
- GLOBULAR PROTEINS: soluble, found in blood and tissue fluids.
- FIBROUS PROTEINS:insoluble. They are found in hair, muscle and connective tissue.
PROTEIN STRUCTURE:
Most proteins fold into a 3 Dimensional structure.
There are 4 BASIC STRUCTURES:
- PRIMARY- this is the amino acid residues, and their linear sequence.
- SECONDARY-This consists of repeating units stabilized by hydrogen bonds. e.g. alpha helix, and beta pleated sheets.
- TERTIARY- the overall shape of the protein molecule as a result of bonds between R Groups.This is stabilized by many interactions( salt bridges, hydrogen bonding, )
- QUATERNARY.-this consists of several protein molecules/ polypeptide chains. They form a single protein complex.
Proteins are synthesized in the body via TRANSLATION, which occurs in the CYTOPLASM and the translation of genetic codes are assembled during DNA transcription into proteins.
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