-Unlike lipids and carbohydrates, proteins are not stored, so they
must be consumed daily.
-Current recommended daily intake for adults is 0.8 grams of
protein per kg of body weight (more is needed for children).
-Dietary protein comes from eating meat and milk.
Proteins
-Proteins account for 50% of the dry weight of the human body.
Classification
(a) Simple proteins. On hydrolysis they yield only the amino acids
and occasional small carbohydrate compounds. Examples are:
albumins, globulins, glutelins, albuminoids, histones and
protamines.
(b) Conjugated proteins. These are simple proteins combined
with some non-protein material in the body. Examples are:
nucleoproteins, glycoproteins, phosphoproteins, haemoglobins
and lecithoproteins.
(c) Derived proteins. These are proteins derived from simple or
conjugated proteins by physical or chemical means. Examples
are: denatured proteins and peptides.
Function of proteins
Fibrinogen helps blood clotting
Proteins
100,000 different proteins in human body
Fibrous proteins:
Insoluble in water –used for structural purposes (Keratin & Collagen).
Globular proteins:
More or less soluble in water –used for nonstructural purposes.
•Are the building blocks of proteins.
•Contain carboxylic acid and amino groups.
•Are ionized in solution (soluble in water).
•They are ionic compounds (solids-high melting points).
•Contain a different side group (R) for each.
side chain
H
2N—C —COOH H
3N—C —COO
−
Amino acids
+
Zwitterion
α-carbon
H H
Ionized form (Salt)
R R
This form never exist in nature.
Amino acids
H
│
H
3N—C —COO
−
│
H glycine
CH
3
│
H
3N—C —COO
−
│
H alanine
+
+
Only difference:containing a different side chain (R) for each.
There are only 20 different amino acids in the proteins in humans.
There are many amino acids.
Amino acids
They are called αamino acids.
-Humans cannot synthesize 10 of these 20 amino acids.
(Essential Amino Acids)
-They must be obtained from the diet (almost daily basis).
Amino acids are classified as:
•Nonpolar(Neutral) amino acids
(hydrophobic) with hydrocarbon (alkyl
or aromatic) sides chains.
•Polar(Neutral) amino acids
(hydrophilic) with polar or ionic side
chains.
•Acidicamino acids(hydrophilic) with
acidic side chains (-COOH).
•Basicamino acids(hydrophilic) with –
NH
2side chains.
Amino acids Classification
NH
3
+
COO
--
O
O
NH
3
+
COO
-
-
O
O
NH
3
+
COO
-
N
H
H
2N
NH
2
+
NH
3
+
COO
-
N
N
H
NH
3
+
COO
-
H
3N
Glutamic acid
(Glu, E)
Aspartic acid
(Asp, D)
Histidine
(His, H)
Lysine
(Lys, K)
Arginine
(Arg, R)
+ Acidic and basic amino acids
Fischer projections
All of the α-amino acids are chiral (except glycine)
Four different groups are attached to central carbon (α-carbon).H NH
3
+
COO
-
CH
3
+
H
3N H
COO
-
CH
3
D-Alanine L-Alanine
(Fischer projections) H NH
3
+
COO
-
CH
3
+
H
3N H
COO
-
CH
3
D-Alanine L-Alanine
(Fischer projections)
CH
2SH CH
2SH
D-cysteine L-cysteine
L isomers is found in the body proteins and in nature.
Ionization and pH
pH: 6 to 7 Isoelectric point (pI)
Positive charges = Negative charges
No net charge (Neutral) -Zwitterion
pH: 3 or less -COO
-
acts as a base and accepts an H
++
R
H
3N-CH-C-O
-
O
+H
3O
+
+
R
H
3N-CH-C-OH
O
+H
2O
pH: 10 or higher -NH
3
+
acts as an acid and loses an H
++
R
H
3N-CH-C-O
-
O
+OH
-
R
H
2N-CH-C-O
-
O
+H
2O +
R
H
3N-CH-C-O
-
O
+OH
-
R
H
2N-CH-C-O
-
O
+H
2O
-
Amino Acid Titration
Amino acids can act as both acids and bases and so are
called amphoteric. Starting with the zwitterion, the COO¯
group can accept a proton as the pH is lowered. The +
NH3 group can lose a proton as the pH raised. Using
alanine as an example,
Ionization and pH
The net charge on an amino acid depends on the
pH of the solution in which it is dissolved.pH 2.0 pH 5.0 - 6.0 pH 10.0
Net charge +1 Net charge 0 Net charge -1
+
R
H
3N-CH-C-O
-
O
+
R
H
3N-CH-C-OH
O
R
H
2N-CH-C-O
-
O
OH
-
H3O
+
OH
-
H
3O
+
6.01
5.41
5.65
5.97
6.02
6.02
5.74
5.48
6.48
5.68
5.87
5.89
5.97
pI
valine
tryptophan
threonine
serine
proline
phenylalanine
methionine
leucine
isoleucine
glycine
glutamine
asparagine
alanine
Nonpolar &
polar side chains
10.76
2.77
5.07
3.22
7.59
9.74
5.66
pI
tyrosine
lysine
histidine
glutamic acid
cysteine
aspartic acid
arginine
Acidic
Side Chains
Basic
Side Chains
pI Ionization and pH
Each amino acid has a fixed and constant pI.
Reactions of Amino Acids
Amino acids will undergo all the reactions typical of acids and amines. However, some
specialized reactions are used in biochemistry to detect and quantify amino acids.
A. Ninhydrin reacts with all amino acids having α-amino groups to give a purple-
blue color. Proline yields a different yellow product because it is an imino acid. The color of
the product can be quantified to find the amino acid concentration.
B. Sanger’s reagent (1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene) reacts with amino groups to give a
yellow product. Unlike ninhydrin, the R group of the amino acid is part of the product, so
the different amino acids can be distinguished as well as quantified.
C. Dansyl chloride reacts with amino groups to give a fluorescent product. Very small
amounts of amino acids can be detected and quantified. Different amino acids can be
distinguished.
D. Other groups The carboxyl group does not undergo convenient, color-producing
reactions. A few R groups (including Cys, Tyr, and Arg) can undergo specific modification.
Some of these reactions with R groups are important in protein studies, such as reactions
with Cys, while other such reactions are not widely used. Sometimes the reagents used for
these reactions produce side reactions or yield results that can be difficult to distinguish.
•When an amide linkstwo amino acids (Peptide bond).
•Between the COO
−
of one amino acid and
the NH
3
+
of the next amino acid.
PeptideO
O
-
H
3N
CH
3
H
3N
O
-
CH
2
OH
O
H
3N
N
CH
3
O CH
2OH
O
O
-
H
H
2O+
Alanine (Ala) Serine (Ser)
+
+
+
peptide
bond
Alanylserine
(Ala-Ser)
+
(amide bond)
•Dipeptide:A molecule containing two amino acids
joined by a peptide bond.
•Tripeptide:A molecule containing three amino
acids joined by peptide bonds.
•Polypeptide:A macromolecule containing many
amino acids joined by peptide bonds.
•Protein:A biological macromolecule containing at
least 40 amino acids joined by peptide bonds.
Peptide
Naming of peptides
C-terminal amino acid:the amino acid at the end of the chain
having the free -COO
-
group (always written at the left).
N-terminal amino acid:the amino acid at the end of the chain
having the free -NH
3
+
group (always written at the right). H
3
N
OH
N
H
O
H
N
COO
-
O
-
O
C
6
H
5
O
+
C-terminal
amino acid
N-terminal
amino acid
Ser-Phe-Asp
Naming of peptides
-Begin from the N terminal.
-Drop “-ine” or “-icacid” and it is replaced by “-yl”.
-Give the full name of amino acid at the C terminal.
H
3N-CH-C-NH-CH
2-C-NH-CH-C-O
CH
3 CH
2OH
O O O
From alanine
alanyl
From glycine
glycyl
From serine
serine
Alanylglycylserine
(Ala-Gly-Ser)
+
-
Biologically Active Peptides
-Enkephalins, pentapeptides made in the brain, act as pain killers
and sedatives by binding to pain receptors.
-Addictive drugs morphine and heroin bind to these same pain
receptors, thus producing a similar physiological response, though
longer lasting.
-Enkephalins belong to the family of polypeptides called endorphins
(16-31 amino acids),which are known for their pain reducing and mood
enhancing effects.
Biologically Active Peptides
Enkephalins:
Met-enkephalin:
It contains a C-terminal methionine.
Leu-enkephalin:
It contains a C-terminal leucine.
Biologically Active Peptides
Oxytocin and vasopressin are cyclic nonapeptide hormones, which
have identical sequences except for two amino acids.
Oxytocin stimulates the contraction of uterine muscles, and signals for
milk production; it is often used to induce labor.
Vasopressin, antidiuretic hormone (ADH) targets the kidneys and helps
to limit urine production to keep body fluids up during dehydration.
Primary Structure of proteins
-The order of amino acids held together by peptide bonds.
-Each protein in our body has a unique sequence of amino acids.
-The backbone of a protein.
-All bond angles are 120
o
, giving the protein a zigzag arrangement.
Ala─Leu─Cys─Met
+
CH
3
S
CH
2
CH
2
SH
CH
2
CH
3
CH
3
CH
CH O
O
-
CCH
H
N
O
CCH
H
N
O
CCH
H
N
O
C
CH
3
CHH
3N
+
Primary Structure of proteins
Chain A
CO
O
-
NH
3
+
NH
3
+
CO
O
-
Chain B
The primary structure of insulin:
-Is a hormone that regulates the glucose level
in the blood.
-Was the first amino acid order determined.
-Contains of two polypeptide chains linked by
disulfide bonds (formed by side chains (R)).
-Chain A has 21 amino acids and
chain B has 30 amino acids.
-Genetic engineers can produce it for
treatment of diabetes.
Secondary Structure of proteins
Describes the waythe amino acids next to or near to each other
along the polypeptide are arranged inspace.
1. Alpha helix (α helix)
2. Beta-pleated sheet (-pleated sheet)
3. Triple helix (found in Collagen)
4. Some regions are random arrangements.
Secondary Structure -α-helix
•A section of polypeptide chain coils into a rigid
spiral.
•Held by H bonds between the H of N-H group
and the O of C=O of the fourth amino acid
down the chain (next turn).
•looks like a coiled “telephone cord.”
•All R-groups point outward from the helix.
•Myosin in muscle and α-Keratin in hair
have this arrangement.
H-bond
Secondary Structure --pleated sheet
O H
•Consists of polypeptide chains (strands) arranged side by side.
•Has hydrogen bonds between the peptide chains.
•Has R groups above and below the sheet (vertical).
•Is typical of fibrous proteins such as silk.
Secondary Structure –Triple helix (Superhelix)
-Collagen is the most abundant protein.
-Three polypeptide chains (three α-helix) woven together.
-It is found in connective tissues: bone, teeth, blood
vessels, tendons, and cartilage.
-Consists of glycine (33%), proline(22%), alanine (12%),
and smaller amount of hydroxyprolineand hydroxylysine.
-High % of glycine allows the chains to lie close to each
other.
-We need vitamin C to form H-bonding (a special enzyme).
Tertiary Structure
The tertiary structure is determined by attractions and repulsions
between the side chains (R)of the amino acids in a polypeptide chain.
Interactions between side
chains of the amino acids
fold a protein into a specific
three-dimensional shape.
-S-S-
Tertiary Structure
(1)Disulfide (-S-S-)
(2) salt bridge (acid-base)
(3) Hydrophilic (polar)
(4) hydrophobic (nonpolar)
(5) Hydrogen bond
Shorthand symbols on a protein Ribbon diagram:
Tertiary Structure
Lysozyme (an enzyme)
Globular proteins
-Have compact, spherical shape.
-Almost soluble in water.
-Carry out the work of the cells:
Synthesis, transport, and metabolism
Myoglobin
Stores oxygen in muscles.
153 amino acids in a single polypeptide chain (mostly α-helix).
Fibrous proteins
α-keratin: skin, nail, hair, and bone
-Have long, thin shape and insoluble in water.
-Involve in the structure of cells and tissues.
-keratin: feathers of birds
Large amount of -pleated sheet
Superhelix:
Collagen
-More disulfide bonds, more rigid materials
(horns & nails).
-α-helixchains bond together by disulfide bond (-S-S-)
Quaternary Structure
•Occurs when two or more protein units
(polypeptide subunits) combine.
•Is stabilized by the same interactions
found in tertiary structures (between side
chains).
•Hemoglobinconsists of four polypeptide
chains as subunits.
•Is a globular protein and transports
oxygen in blood (four molecules of O
2).
•CO is poisonous because it binds 200
times more strongly to the Fe
2+
than does
O
2(Cells can die from lack of O
2).
chain
chain
αchain
αchain
Hemoglobin
Conjugated Proteins
They are composed of a protein unit and a nonprotein molecule.
Myoglobin & Hemoglobin
Heme: a complex organic compound containing the Fe
2+
.
Sickle Cell Hemoglobin
Sickle cell anemia is a disease where a single amino acid of both β
subunits is changed from glutamic acid to valine.
-Red blood cells containing these mutated hemoglobin units become
elongated and crescent (sickle) shaped (more fragile).
-These red blood cells will rupture capillaries,
causing pain and inflammation, leading
to organ damage, and eventually
a painful death.
-A genetic mutation in the DNA sequence that is responsible for synthesis
of hemoglobin.
Summary of protein Structure
Denaturation
Active protein
Denatured protein
-Is a process of destroying a protein
by chemical and physical means.
-We can destroy secondary, tertiary,
or quaternary structure but the primary
structure is not affected.
-Denaturing agents:heat, acids and bases,
organic compounds, heavy metal ions, and
mechanical agitation.
-Some denaturations are reversible,
while others permanently damage the protein.
Ovalbumin
Denaturation
•Heat:H bonds, Hydrophobic interactions
•Detergents:H bonds
•Acids and bases:Salt bridges, H bonds.
•Reducing agents: Disulfide bonds
•Heavy metal ions(transition metal ions Pb
2+
, Hg
2+
):Disulfide bonds
•Alcohols: H bonds, Hydrophilic interactions
•Agitation:H bonds, Hydrophobic interactions
Enzymes
Enzyme
E
act
E
act
-Like a catalyst, they increase the rate of biological reactions (10
6
to 10
12
times faster).
-Lower the activation energy for the reaction.
2HIH
2+ I
2
H
…
H
I
…
I
… …
-Less energy is required to convert reactants to products.
-But, they are not changed at the end of the reaction.
-They are made of proteins.
Enzyme
-Most of enzymes are globular proteins (water soluble).
-Proteins are not the only biological catalysts.
-Most of enzymes arespecific.
(Trypsin: cleaves the peptide bonds of proteins)
-Some enzymes are localizedaccording to need.
(digestive enzymes: stomach)
Names of Enzymes -Classification
-By replacing the end of the name of reaction or reacting compound
with the suffix « -ase».
Oxidoreductases:oxidation-reduction reactions (oxidase-reductase).
Transferases:transfer a group between two compounds.
Hydrolases:hydrolysis reactions.
Lyases:add or remove groups involving a double bond without hydrolysis.
Isomerases:rearrange atoms in a molecule to form a isomer.
Ligases:form bonds between molecules.
Enzyme
-Substrate:the compound or compounds whose reaction an enzyme
catalyzes.
-Active site:the specific portionof the enzyme to which a substrate binds
during reaction.
Enzyme catalyzed reaction
An enzyme catalyzes a reaction by,
•Attaching to a substrate at the active site
(by side chain (R) attractions).
•Forming an Enzyme-Substrate
Complex (ES).
•Forming and releasing products.
•E + S ES E + P
Enzyme: globular protein
1. Lock-and-Key model
-Enzyme has a rigid, nonflexible shape.
-An enzyme binds only substrates that
exactly fit the active site.
-The enzyme is analogous to a lock.
-The substrate is the key that fits into the lock
2. Induced-Fit model
-Enzyme structure is flexible, not rigid.
-Enzyme and substrate adjust the shape
of the active site to bind substrate.
-The range of substrate specificity
increases.
-A different substrate could not induce
these structural changes and no
catalysis would occur.
Factors affecting enzyme activity
Activity of enzyme:how fast an enzyme catalyzes the reaction.
1. Temperature
2. pH
3. Substrate concentration
4. enzyme concentration
5. Enzyme inhibition
Temperature
-Enzymes are very sensitive to temperature.
-At low T, enzyme shows little activity (not an enough amount of energy for
the catalyzed reaction).
-At very high T, enzyme is destroyed (tertiary structure is denatured).
-Optimum temperature:37°C or body temperature.
pH
-Optimum pH: is 7.4 in our body.
-Lower or higher pH can change the shape of enzyme.
(active site change and substrate cannot fit in it)
-But optimum pH in stomach is 2.
Stomach enzyme (Pepsin) needs an acidic pH to digest the food.
-Some damages of enzyme are reversible.
Substrate and enzyme concentration
Maximum activity
Enzyme concentration ↑ Rate of reaction ↑
Substrate concentration ↑ First: Rate of reaction ↑
End: Rate of reaction reaches
to its maximum: all of the enzymes
are combined with substrates.
Enzyme inhibition
Inhibitors cause enzymes to lose catalytic activity.
Competitive inhibitor
Noncompetitive inhibitor
Competitive Inhibitor
-Inhibitor has a structure that is so similar to the substrate.
-It competes for the active site on the enzyme.
-Solution:increasing the substrate concentration.
Noncompetitive Inhibitor
-Inhibitor is not similar to the substrate.
-It does not compete for the active site.
-When it is bonded to enzyme, change the shape
of enzyme (active site) and substrate cannot fit in
the active site (change tertiary structure).
-Like heavy metal ions (Pb
2+
, Ag
+
, or Hg
2+
) that
bond with –COO
-
, or –OH groups of amino acid
in an enzyme.
-Penicillin inhibits an enzyme needed for formation
of cell walls in bacteria: infection is stopped.
-Solution:some chemical reagent can remove the
inhibitors.
Inhibitor
Site
Competitive and Noncompetitive Inhibitor
Enzyme cofactors
protein
protein
protein
Metal ion
Organic
molecules
(coenzyme)
Simple enzyme (apoenzyme)
Enzyme + Cofactor
Enzyme + Cofactor (coenzyme)
Metal ions:
bond to side chains.
obtain from foods.
Fe
2+
and Cu
2+
are gain or loss electrons in redox reactions.
Zn
2+
stabilize amino acid side chain during reactions.
Enzyme cofactors
-Enzyme and cofactors work together.
-Catalyze reactions properly.
Vitamins and Coenzymes
Water-soluble vitamins: have a polar group (-OH, -COOH, or …)
Vitamins are organic molecules that must be obtained from the diet.
(our body cannot make them)
Fat-soluble vitamins: have a nonpolar group (alkyl, aromatic, or …)
-They are not stored in the body (must be taken).
-They can be easily destroyed by heat, oxygen,
and ultraviolet light (need care).
-They are stored in the body (taking too much = toxic).
-A, D, E, and K are not coenzymes, but they are important:
vision, formation of bone, proper blood clotting.
Zymogens (Proenzymes)
Zymogen (Proenzyme):an inactive enzyme that becomes an active
enzyme after a chemical change (remove or change some polypeptides).
Trypsinogen (inactive enzyme)
Trypsin (active enzyme)
Digestive enzyme (hydrolyzes the peptide bonds of proteins)
Pancreas
Small intestine
Enzymes in medicine
-Most of enzymes are in cells.
-Small amounts of them are in body fluids (blood, urine,…).
Level of enzyme activity can be monitored.
Find some diseases
Certain enzymes are present in higher amounts in particular cells.
If these cells are damaged or die, the enzymes are released into the
bloodstream and can be detected.
Enzyme Condition
Creatine phosphokinase
Heart attack
Alkaline phosphatase Liver or bone disease
Acid phosphatase Prostate cancer
Enzymes in medicine
Penicillin inhibits the enzyme that forms cell walls of bacteria, destroying
the bacterium.
ACE inhibitors are given to those with high blood pressure to prevent
ACE’s synthesis from it’s zymogen.
ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) causes blood vessels to narrow,
increasing blood pressure.
HIV protease inhibitors interfere with this copying, decreasing the virus
population in the patient.
HIV protease is an essential enzyme that allows the virus to make
copies of itself.
Enzymes in medicine
Inhibitors can be useful drugs.