1. Chapter 5 The Structure and Function of Macromolecules
Proteins

2. Proteins
Macromolecules with many unique 3-D structures & many functions
Functions include:
Structural support (Ex: collagen, keratin, elastin)
Storage (Ex; ovalbumin, casein)
Transport (Ex: hemoglobin)
Signaling (Ex: insulin)
Movement (Ex: actin, myosin)
Immune Defense (Ex: antibodies)
Regulation of Metabolism (enzymes)

3. Table 5.1 An Overview of Protein Functions

4. Proteins, cont’d
Proteins are polymers constructed from a set of twenty different monomers called amino acids
Polypeptide = polymer of amino acids
Proteins = one or more polypeptides folded and coiled into specific conformations ***
Amino Acids = organic molecules that possess both carboxyl and amino groups, a hydrogen, and an R group around a central carbon atom (that is usually asymmetric and referred to as the alpha carbon)

5. Figure 5.15 The 20 amino acids of proteins: nonpolar

6. Figure 5.15 The 20 amino acids of proteins: polar and electrically charged

7. Figure 5.16 Making a polypeptide chain

8. Proteins, cont’d Polypeptide ≠ protein
A protein is precisely twisted, folded, and coiled into a molecule of unique shape
Amino acid sequence determines what the ultimate 3-D conformation will be
A protein’s conformation determines how the protein will function
Ribbon and space-filling models are often used to illustrate protein conformations

9. Figure 5.17 Conformation of a protein, the enzyme lysozyme

10. Primary Structure (1o structure)
Protein Structure
Four levels to protein structure: primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary
Primary Structure (1o structure)
= amino acid sequence
Even slight changes in primary structure can lead to significant changes in conformation (Ex: sickle cell hemoglobin)

11. Protein Structure, cont’d
Frederick Sanger
A pioneer in determining primary structure of proteins
Determined the sequence of insulin
Used different digestive enzymes to cut proteins into fragments, chromatography to separate the fragments, and chemical methods to determine the sequences of fragments
Searched for overlapping sequences of fragments generated by digesting with different enzymes and put the puzzle together

12. Figure 5.18 The primary structure of a protein

13. Figure 5.19 A single amino acid substitution in a protein causes sickle-cell disease

14. Protein Structure, cont’d
Secondary Structure (2o structure)
A regular coiled or folded pattern that exists in polypeptides due to hydrogen bonding of the polypeptide backbone (oxygen from the carbonyl group and hydrogen from an amino group)
Note that R groups are not involved in the hydrogen bonding that occurs in the secondary structure***
a helix / hydrogen bonding between every fourth amino acid
 pleated sheet / hydrogen bonds between parallel folds of the polypeptide

15. Figure 5.20 The secondary structure of a protein

16. Protein Structure, cont’d
Tertiary Structure (3o structure)
Irregular contortions due to interactions between side chains (R groups)
Hydrophobic interactions / van der Waals interactions / nonpolar stays with nonpolar
Hydrogen bonds between R groups
Ionic interactions between + and – charged side chains
Disulfide bridges between two cysteine sulfhydryls / note this is a strong covalent bond

17. Figure 5.22 Examples of interactions contributing to the tertiary structure of a protein

18. Protein Structure, cont’d
Quaternary Structure (4o structure)
Overall protein structure resulting from two or more polypeptide chains joining to form a functional protein
Ex: hemoglobin = 2 a and 2  chains
collagen = triple helix (accounts for 40% of protein found in the human body)

19. Figure 5.23 The quaternary structure of proteins

20. Figure 5.24 Review: the four levels of protein structure

21. aqueous or organic solvent?
Protein Folding
What determines protein conformation?
Amino acid sequence
Physical environment
Chemical environment
pH, salt, temperature,
aqueous or organic solvent?

22. Protein Folding, cont’d
Denaturation = protein loses its native conformation, typically inactivates proteins
Some examples: egg white on cooking, turning protein inside out when placed in an organic solvent, etc.
Many proteins can return to their native conformation when placed back in their normal environment, but this is not always the case

23. Figure 5.25 Denaturation and renaturation of a protein

24. Chaperones
Many proteins may have a distinct set of folding steps to pass through on their way to becoming a functional protein
Chaperones = protein molecules that assist the proper folding of other proteins / may work by protecting new polypeptide from “bad influences” in the cytoplasmic environment
Protein folding patterns are still a bit of a mystery!

25. Figure 5.26 A chaperonin in action

26. Determining Protein Structure
X-ray crystallography depends on the diffraction of an X-ray beam by the individual atoms in a crystal
Trick is to get good crystals!

27. Figure 5.27 X-ray crystallography