biological molecules

625 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: How the structure of proteins is related to their function

Protein Structure
Proteins are biological polymers (poly = 2 or more). They are composed of amino acids which are linked together by peptide bonds forming a peptide chain. One or more of these peptide chains, twisted into a 3 dimensional shape is what forms a protein. These have complex shapes and structures that will include folds, loops and curves. The folding of proteins happens simultaneously and chemical bonding between parts of a polypeptide chain help to hold the chain together and inform its shape. Proteins fall into two general classes, globular proteins and fibrous proteins. Globular proteins are compact, spherical in shape and soluble. Fibrous proteins are insoluble and elongated in shape. Both will exhibit one or more of four types of protein structure. These types are called primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary structure. About.com Biology. (2010).1
The four types of protein structure are set apart from one another by the level of complexity shown in the polypeptide chain. A single protein molecule may contain one or more of the protein structure types.
• Primar...

Show More
Related

  • Exploring the Ways in Which Organisms Use ATP

    648 Words  | 2 Pages

    The shape of the protein chains that produce the building blocks and other structures used in life is mostly determined by weak chemical bonds that are easily broken and remade. These chains can shorten, lengthen, and change shape in response to the input or withdrawal of energy. The changes in the chains alter the shape of the protein and can also alter its function or cause it to become either active or inactive. The ATP molecule can bond to one part of a... ... middle of paper ... ...

    Read More

  • Which Functional Groups Were Present in Certain Substances

    436 Words  | 1 Pages

    This lab used many test to determine which functional groups were present in certain substance. The Benedicts test was used to identify reducing sugars (glucose and fructose) based on their ability to reuce the Capric ions to cuprous oxide at high pH. The Cuprous oxide is reddish orange in color when shown to be at high levels by the test, and greenish when at low levels. In both the onion juice and glucose solution the reducing sugar levels were very high, because the test came back dark orange. The starch solution had relatively low levels of reducing sugar present and this was seen by the test coming back cloundy blue, green and brown.

    Read More

  • The Effect of Temperature on the Activity of Rennin in Milk

    3329 Words  | 7 Pages

    The primary structure is the sequence of amino acids that make up a polypeptide chain. 20 different amino acids are found in proteins. The exact order of the amino acids in a specific protein is the primary sequence for that protein. [IMAGE] [IMAGE]Protein secondary structure refers to regular, repeated patterns of folding of the protein backbone. The two most common folding patterns are the alpha helix and the beta sheet.

    Read More

  • Catalase Activity Essay

    1747 Words  | 4 Pages

    Proteins are one of the main building blocks of the body. They are required for the structure, function, and regulation of the body’s tissues and organs. Even smaller units create proteins; these are called amino acids. There are twenty different types of amino acids, and all twenty are configured in many different chains and sequences, producing differing protein structures and functions. An enzyme is a specialized protein that participates in chemical reactions where they serve as catalysts to speed up said reactions, or reduce the energy of activation, noted as Ea (Mader & Windelspecht).

    Read More

  • The Structure and Function of Carbohydrates

    590 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Structure and Function of Carbohydrates Large biological molecules are called macromolecules, there are giant molecules (polymers) made up of repeating units (monomers). Carbohydrates are one of the main classes of biological molecules. Macromolecule units (monomers) are joined together by condensation reactions and hydrolysis reactions split macromolecules down into their individual units. Carbohydrates are molecules that contain elements of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Carbohydrates have a 2:1 hydrogen to oxygen ratio, there are twice as many hydrogen atoms as oxygen atoms (the same proportion as in water).

    Read More

  • Questions and Answers on Nutrients, Diet and Eating Disorders

    1037 Words  | 3 Pages

    Proteins are the building blocks for your body. The proteins are broken down into amino acids. These amino acids are used to build and repair muscles, hair, blood cells, and some hormones. Proteins are also a good source of calories, which the body recognizes and uses to replace carbohydrates. Without proteins are body’s couldn't exist. Proteins can be found in the Protein Foods Group, which consists of meats, eggs, nuts, beans, etc..

    Read More

  • Chemistry and the Structure of DNA

    599 Words  | 2 Pages

    Genetics relies on chemistry to explain phenomena related to the field. The structure of DNA relies on chemistry. In fact, when James Watson and Francis Crick discovered the structure of DNA, they did so by building models based on the laws of chemistry. Chemistry also relates heavily to the structure and function of one of the main products of DNA: protein.

    Read More

  • Nutrition And Digestion Essay

    2515 Words  | 6 Pages

    Protein have connection with amino acid to help in functions of: skin, muscle, hair and bones

    Read More

  • A Comparison of the Chemical Structures and Production Methods of Silk and Artificial Silk

    2847 Words  | 6 Pages

    n.d. - n.d. Peptides and Proteins. Proteins. Retrieved July 25, 2008, from http://www.cd http://www.cem.msu.edu/reusch/VirtualText/protein2.htm Ophardt, C. E. (2003).

    Read More

  • The Three-Dimensional Structure of Proteins

    1261 Words  | 3 Pages

    The covalent structure of a protein is composed of hundreds of individual bonds. Because free rotation is possible around a good portion of these bonds, there are a very high number of possible conformations the protein can assume. However, each protein is responsible for a particular chemical or structural function, signifying that each one has a distinctive three-dimensional configuration. By the early 1900’s, numerous proteins had been crystallized. Because the ordered collection of molecules in a crystal can only form if all of the molecular units are the same, the discovery that proteins could be crystallized proved that even large proteins have distinct chemical structures. This deduction completely transformed the understanding of proteins and their respective functions. It is important to investigate how a series of amino acids in a polypeptide chain is translated into a three-dimensional protein structure. There are five general topics related to this process: the structure of a protein is determined by its amino acid sequence, the role of a protein is dependent on its unique structure, an isolated protein typically exists in a small number of stable forms, non-covalent interactions are the most important stabilizing forces in a protein structure, and there are structural patterns that aid in explaining and understanding protein architecture.

    Read More

  • The Functions of Proteins

    923 Words  | 2 Pages

    Each protein is a large complex molecule; these molecules are made up of. of a string of amino acids. There are 20 different amino acids that occur naturally to form proteins and they all have the same basic structure. The. The 20 amino acids the body needs can be linked in.

    Read More

  • Essay On Haemoglobin

    1249 Words  | 3 Pages

    Tertiary structure- this is where the Haem group of the polypeptide chains cause it to twist and fold to form the first 3D structure a structure for haemoglobin.

    Read More

  • Essay On Proteins

    1463 Words  | 3 Pages

    Proteins are considered to be the most versatile macromolecules in a living system. This is because they serve crucial functions in all biological processes. Proteins are linear polymers, and they are made up of monomer units that are called amino acids. The sequence of the amino acids linked together is referred to as the primary structure. A protein will spontaneously fold up into a 3D shape caused by the hydrogen bonding of amino acids near each other. This 3D structure is determined by the sequence of the amino acids. The 3D structure is referred to as the secondary structure. There is also a tertiary structure, which is formed by the long-range interactions of the amino acids. Protein function is directly dependent on this 3D structure.

    Read More

  • Peptides Essay

    1444 Words  | 3 Pages

    A peptide is a chemical compound consisting of two or more amino acids that are joined by a peptide bond. This bond is a unique connection in which the nitrogen atom of one amino acid binds to the carboxyl carbon atom of another.

    Read More

  • God’s Divine Creation of the World

    1144 Words  | 3 Pages

    "Laminin, a Protein Important to the Body, Is in the Shape of a Cross-Truth!" Laminin, a Protein Important to the Body, Is in the Shape of a Cross-Truth!N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2014.

    Read More

More about biological molecules

Open Document