PROTEINS

Proteins contains the elements C,H,O,N,S/P,

They are macromolecules
Themonomer units are called Amino acids (there are 20 amino acids)

AMINO ACIDS

Has a basic structure

The groups that are always present are

NH2 – Amine group

COOH – carboxyl group
R group varies and it affects the way the amino acids bonds with the other proteins(polar
or non polar)

Amino acids join together by condensation reaction (between the amine group of one
amino acid and the carboxyl group of the other amino acid)
The bond formed will be the peptide bond
A dipeptide is formed when 2 amino acids join together and a poly peptide is formed
when many amino acids join together.
The other bonds in the protein are
1. Hydrogen bond
2. .Sulfur bond
3. Ionic bond

Hydrogen bond
Weak bonds and can be broken easily
Formed between the slightly positively charged oxygen in the carboxyl group and
slightly negatively charged hydrogen in the amine group
Important in the folding and the coiling of the polypeptide chains.
Sulfur bond
Formed between 2 cysteine or 2 methionine molecules by the oxidation reaction taking
place between the S containing groups .
Strong covalent bond
Important in holding the folded polypeptide chains in place
Ionic bond

Formed between the strong positive and negative amino acid side chain.

Assording to the levels of organization proteins can be classified as

1. Primary structure of protein

2. Secondary structure of protein
3. Tertiary structure of protein
4. Quaternary structure of protein

1. Primary structure of protein

Number type and sequence of the amino acids along the poly peptide chain/linear
sequence of amino acids in a peptide chain

2. Secondary structure of protein