Protein chemistry for MLS

Front

What are proteins?

Back

Proteins are complex organic nitrogenous substances with very high molecular weights, found in all plant and animal cells, consisting largely or entirely of alpha-amino acids united in peptide linkages.

Front

List three functions of proteins.

Back

1. Catalysts of chemical reactions (enzymes). 2. Transport and storage (e.g., hemoglobin transports oxygen). 3. Mechanical support (e.g., collagen and keratin).

Front

What is the role of enzymes in proteins?

Back

Enzymes are mainly proteins that serve as catalysts for chemical reactions.

Front

What is hemoglobin?

Back

Hemoglobin is a protein that transports oxygen in the blood.

Front

What are fibrous proteins?

Back

Fibrous proteins are elongated, tough, insoluble in water, and involved in structural functions (e.g., collagen and keratin).

Front

What are globular proteins?

Back

Globular proteins are circular, involved in mobile and dynamic functions, and are used for transport (e.g., enzymes and hemoglobin).

Front

What are the two main classifications of proteins?

Back

1. Simple proteins (made up of amino acids only). 2. Conjugated proteins (made up of amino acids plus other substances).

Front

What are amino acids?

Back

Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins and have a basic structure consisting of a central carbon, an amino group, a carboxyl group, a hydrogen atom, and a distinctive side chain.

Front

What is a chiral carbon?

Back

A chiral carbon is a carbon atom that has four different groups attached to it.

Front

Which amino acid is not a chiral carbon?

Back

Glycine is not a chiral carbon because its side chain is hydrogen, making the four groups attached to the carbon not different from each other.