DOLORSO, Vina Marie O.

July
04, 2009
ThFS 10:30 – 11:30

Assignment # 03

Proteins

I. Proteins

Proteins are large, organic, nitrogen-containing molecules that are essential both to the
structure and to the function of all living cells. Exceedingly complex themselves, the protein molecules
have as their structural units much simpler compounds called amino acids. Typically, the amino acids in
each molecule are strung together in chain-like fashion, with the longer chains folded into ribbons,
spirals, and other three-dimensional forms.

One of protein's main functions is to serve as "raw material" for the growth, maintenance and

repair of all living tissues. Proteins make up at least 50 percent of most animal cells and
they constitute much of the solid matter in muscles, organs, and endocrine glands. Specialized proteins
(keratins, for instance) are used to form skin, hair, and nails; other proteins (collagen) help form
connective tissue; and still others ( globulins and albumins) make up the soluble or semi-soluble
molecules of all cells.

http://www.bookrags.com/research/protein-wsd/

II. General Characteristics of Protein

• Proteins are essential parts of organisms and participate in virtually every process within cells.
• Proteins also have structural or mechanical functions, such as actin and myosin in muscle and the
proteins in the cytoskeleton, which form a system of scaffolding that maintains cell shape.
• Proteins are also necessary in animals' diets, since animals cannot synthesize all the amino acids
they need and must obtain essential amino acids from food.
• Proteins can be informally divided into three main classes, which correlate with typical tertiary
structures: globular proteins, fibrous proteins, and membrane proteins. Almost all globular proteins
are soluble and many are enzymes. Fibrous proteins are often structural, such as collagen, the
major component of connective tissue, or keratin, the protein component of hair and nails.
Membrane proteins often serve as receptors or provide channels for polar or charged molecules to
pass through the cell membrane.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protein

III. Common Amino Acids

Group #1 - This group includes all the amino acids possessing aliphatic properties (those whose
carbon atoms are joined in open chains),

Glycine
Alanine

Leucine

Valine

Serine

Threonine

Isoleucine
Group #2 - These are the Sulfur containing amino acids,

Methionine
Cystine
 Cysteine
Group #3 - These amino acids are the acidic amino acids, (those that can donate a hydrogen ion),

Aspartic Acid

Glutamic Acid, and their associated amids.

Group #4 - These are the diamino acids (those with additional NH2 groups),

Arginine

Lysine.
Group #5 - These are the cyclic and aromatic amino acids,

Phenylalanine,
Tyrosine,

Tryptophan,

Histidine,

Proline,
and
Hydroxyproline

Prolamine.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_standard_amino_acids
http://pages.prodigy.net/naturedoctor/protein.html