Structure and classification ofamino acids. The composition andproperties of proteins, theirfunctions in the human body.

Answered: Structure and classification of amino…

Biochemistry

9th Edition

ISBN:9781319114671

Author:Lubert Stryer, Jeremy M. Berg, John L. Tymoczko, Gregory J. Gatto Jr.

Publisher:Lubert Stryer, Jeremy M. Berg, John L. Tymoczko, Gregory J. Gatto Jr.

Chapter1: Biochemistry: An Evolving Science

Section: Chapter Questions

Problem 1P

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Question

Structure and classification of
amino acids. The composition and
properties of proteins, their
functions in the human body.

Expert Solution

introduction

Amino acids are biomolecules that contain an amino group (NH2-), a hydrogen atom, a carboxyl group (-COOH) and a side chain (R group). All of these are bonded to a carbon atom called the α-carbon.

Proteins are polymers of amino acids joined by covalent peptide bonds.

peptide bond formation- it is a covalent bond formed by condensation reaction between the α-carboxyl group of one amino acid and the α-amino group of another. A molecule of water is released for each peptide bond formation.

The polypeptide chain thus formed is regarded as the primary structure of protein. Each polypeptide chain has an amino or N- terminal (the end having a free amino group) and a carboxyl or C-terminal (the end having a free carboxyl group).
The secondary structure of protein refers to the arrangements of the polypeptide chains into helices and sheet-like structures, stabilized by hydrogen bonds mainly. Secondary structures are of two types- α-helix and β-sheet.
The secondary structures are further folded into the three-dimensional tertiary structure.
The quaternary structure of a protein consists of two or more three-dimensional polypeptide subunits.