Proteins and Protein Structure. :D

Two types of proteins, Globular and Structural.

Enzymes are catalysts that specifically increase reaction rates by as much as 10 (to the power of) 6. They are proteins. Other examples are Regulatory Proteins, Contractile and Motile Proteins, which allow cell and tissue movement. Actin and Mysoin in muscles. Protective Proteins, like antibodies. The little sea creatures, muscles, have proteins that allow the to attach to rocks. Fish have proteins that allow them to swim if freezing temperatures. Hemoglobin is in red blood cells, it transports oxygen to tissues, and Fibrin aids in blood clotting.

Amino Acids are the building blocks of proteins. They are monomers. 'Mono' means 'Single'. 'Mer' means 'Unit'. (Can you kinda see how the name applies?)

A chain of these is a polypeptide. 'Poly' meaning many.

Some proteins can be more then one polypeptide. Like Hemoglobin which is four combined together.

Lipids aren't polymers, they are big, but aren't lots of repeating units.

Amino Acids...

• Carbon
• Nitrogen
• Oxygen
  
• Hydrogen.
  

All have those basic elements. Some many have different ones such as Sulfur or Phosphorus.

Approximately 20 naturally occurring amino acids exist, so there is huge variation in polypeptide chains.

The basica structure of a amino acid is as follows: On the left, an Amino group (Nitrogen, with 2 single bonded hydrogen.) This is singley bonded to a Carbon, which is single bonded to a hydrogen, the R Group, which I will desribe next, and on the right, singley bonded to a Carboxylic Acid group. (As said before this is a singley bonded carbon and 'OH' with a double bonded oxygen.

The R group is the variable. It vaires from one amino to the next to give the different function or proerties. It can be as simple as just 'H' (Glycine), or CH3 (Adenine). They give different, specific properties like size, shape, charge, etc.

They are joined in a condensation reation. (Read a few posts below for my comment about those.)

The way they bond is that a bond goes from the carbonto the nitrogen in the condensation reaction. This is called a peptide bond.

Two amino acids joining together is a Dipeptide.


So, comment and coreect me or whatever. Critism is welcomed, help is to. Aiming for an A in this overall so any useful info is good. D:
-Nin. ^__^