Proteins
Proteins
Proteins
Rut Klinger
MIS IB DP SL Biology
Proteins have a very
wide range of
Essential idea
functions in living
organisms
Proteins are a very diverse class of compounds and may
serve a number of different roles within a cell, including:
Structure
Collagen: A component of the connective tissue of animals (most abundant protein in mammals)
Spider silk: A fiber spun by spiders and used to make webs (by weight, is stronger than kevlar and steel)
Hormones
Insulin: Protein produced by the pancreas and triggers a reduction in blood glucose levels
Glucagon: Protein produced by the pancreas that triggers an increase in blood glucose levels
Immunity
Immunoglobulins: Antibodies produced by plasma cells that are capable of targeting specific antigens
Transport
Haemoglobin: A protein found in red blood cells that is responsible for the transport of oxygen
Cytochrome: A group of proteins located in the mitochondria and involved in the electron transport chain
Sensation
Rhodopsin: A pigment in the photoreceptor cells of the retina that is responsible for the detection of light
Movement
Actin: Thin filaments involved in the contraction of muscle fibres
Myosin: Thick filaments involved in the contraction of muscle fibres
Enzymes
Rubisco: An enzyme involved in the light independent stage of photosynthesis
proteins Made of Amino Acids subunits
Amino Acids
Polypeptides are molecule consisting of many amino acids linked by peptide bonds - this
happens on ribosomes by a process called translation
The polypeptides can contain any number of amino acids through chains of fewer than 20
amino acids are usually referred to as oligopeptides rather than polypeptides
Ribosomes link amino acids together on at a time until a polypeptide is fully formed
Ribosome can make peptide bonds between any pair of amino acids
amount of amino acid sequences can be calculated starting with dipeptides:
The amino acids in a dipeptide can be any of the 20 so there are 20 times 20 possible
sequences
There are 20 x 20 x 20 possible tripeptide sequences
for a polypeptide of n amino acids there are 20 n possible sequences # of amino acids in a
polipeptide – e.g. 400 amino acids there are 20^400 possible amino acid sequences
Amino Acids’
properties
of their side Polar amino acids will generally line interior pores (to
create hydrophilic channels)
chain Enzymes:
The active site specifically depends on the location and
distribution of polar and non-polar amino acids as
hydrophobic and hydrophilic interactions can play a role
in substrate binding to the active site
Levels of protein
structure:
The amino acid
sequence
determines the
three-dimensional
conformation of a
protein
Sequence and number of amino acids in the
Primary polypeptide
Directly encoded by codons in mRNA
structure Joined by covalent peptide bonds
Secondary structure
denaturation
pH - ‘power of hydrogen’ - represents
the concentration of hydrogen ions in
a water-based solution
pH Temperature
Typically, one gene will code for one polypeptide – however there are exceptions to this rule:
Genes may be alternatively spliced to generate multiple polypeptide variants
Genes may be mutated (their base sequence is changed) and consequently produce an alternative
polypeptide sequence
Every individual has a unique proteome
The proteome is the totality of proteins expressed within a cell, tissue or organism at a certain time. The
proteome of any given individual will be unique, as protein expression patterns are determined by an
individual’s genes
Genome - all of the genes of a cell, a tissue or an organism
The genome of an organism is fixed, but the proteome is variable because different cells in an
organism make different proteins
Even in a single cell the proteins that are made vary over time depending on its activities – the
proteome therefore reveals what is actually happening in an organism, not what potentially could
happen
Within a species there are both strong similarities and differences in the proteome of all individuals
Proteome of each individual is unique partly because of differences of activity, but also because of
differences in the amino acid sequence of proteins - with the possible exception of identical twins,
none of us have identical proteins, so each of us has a unique proteome, even the proteome of
identical twins can become different with age
The proteome is always significantly larger than the number of genes in an
individual due to a number of factors:
Sigmaaldrich.com
Insulin -
regulation
Animal hormone
Produced by b cells of
pancreas
Lowers glucose level in
blood
Triggers glucose uptake by
various cells
Immunoglobulins
- immunity
Antibodies
Produced by lymphocytes
Recognize specific
molecules in foreign cells
or substances
Participate in destroing of
dangerous molecules and
microorganisms
Rhodopsin - reception
Light-sensitive protein
Produced by rods (photoreceptor
cells) in retina
Enables B&W (monocolour) vision
Collagen - elasticity
www..jsd.claremont.edu
Spider silk -
resistance
Produced by spiders to
make webs
Incredibly resistant to
pulling forces
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