Lecture 1

Molecular biology ٣٢٥ Sabah Linjawi ١

 Proteins

„ Proteins are polymers of

amino acids covalently linked
through peptide bonds into a
chain.
„ Within and outside of cells,
proteins serve a myriad of
functions, including structural
roles (cytoskeleton), as
catalysts (enzymes),
transporter to ferry ions and
molecules across membranes,
and hormones.
Molecular biology ٣٢٥ Sabah Linjawi ٢
 Amino Acids

„ Proteins are polymers of amino acids joined together by

peptide bonds.
„ There are 20 different amino acids that make up essentially all
proteins on earth
„ Each of these amino acids has a fundamental design composed
of a central carbon (also called the alpha carbon) bonded to:
„ a hydrogen
„ a carboxyl group
„ an amino group
„ a unique side chain or R-group

Molecular biology ٣٢٥ Sabah Linjawi ٣

 Amino Acids

Molecular biology ٣٢٥ Sabah Linjawi ٤

 Amino Acids

„ The characteristic that distinguishes one amino acid from

another is its unique side chain, and it is the side chain that
dictates an amino acids chemical properties .
„ The amino acids are shown with the amino and carboxyl
groups ionized, as they are at physiologic pH.

Molecular biology ٣٢٥ Sabah Linjawi ٥

 Amino Acids

„ Except for glycine, which has a hydrogen as its R-

group, there is asymmetry about the alpha carbon in
all amino acids.
„ Because of this, all amino acids except glycine can
exist in either of two mirror-image forms.
„ The two forms - called stereoisomers - are referred to
as D and L amino acids.
„ With rare exceptions, all of the amino acids in
proteins are L amino acids.

Molecular biology ٣٢٥ Sabah Linjawi ٦

 Peptides and Proteins
„ Amino acids are covalently bonded together in chains by
peptide bonds.
„ If the chain length is short (say less than 30 amino acids) it is
called a peptide
„ longer chains are called polypeptides or proteins.
„ Peptide bonds are formed between the carboxyl group of one
amino acid and the amino group of the next amino acid.
„ Peptide bond formation occurs in a condensation reaction
involving loss of a molecule of water.

Molecular biology ٣٢٥ Sabah Linjawi ٧

 Types of Proteins

„ Based upon chemical composition, proteins are divided into

two major classes:
„ 1- simple proteins, which are composed of only amino acids
„ 2- conjugated proteins, which are composed of amino acids
and additional organic and inorganic groupings, which are
called prosthetic groups.
„ Conjugated proteins include:
„ glycoproteins, which contain carbohydrates
„ lipoproteins, which contain lipids
„ nucleoproteins, which contain nucleic acids

Molecular biology ٣٢٥ Sabah Linjawi ٨

 Classified by biological function

„ proteins include the enzymes, which are responsible for

catalyzing the thousands of chemical reactions of the living
cell
„ keratin, elastin, and collagen, which are important types of
structural, or support, proteins
„ hemoglobin and other gas transport proteins; ovalbumin,
casein, and other nutrient molecules
„ antibodies, which are molecules of the immune system
„ protein hormones, which regulate metabolism
„ proteins that perform mechanical work, such as actin and
myosin, the contractile muscle proteins.

Molecular biology ٣٢٥ Sabah Linjawi ٩

 Conjugated proteins

„ These proteins consist from protein and other compounds,

which are called according to the group associated with it,
such as:
„ 1- Nucleoproteins: protein and nucleic acid which are found in
the nucleus
„ 2- Chromoproteins: Proteins and colored compounds such as
hemoglobin in the blood is associated with an iron (Fe +2), as
well as chlorophyll, the green protein is associated with the
element magnesium (Mg +2) and may not contain an element
of the group such as proteins associated with melanin in hair

Molecular biology ٣٢٥ Sabah Linjawi ١٠

 Conjugated proteins

Molecular biology ٣٢٥ Sabah Linjawi ١١

 Conjugated proteins

„ 3- Phosphoproteins: Proteins and the phosphate group such as

Casein in milk and Vitellin in the egg yolk
„ 4- Glycoproteins :Protein and sugars,the carbohydrates part
consists of short-chain branching, and plays an important role
in the cell, such as some enzymes, hormones and antibodies
„ 5- Lipoproteins : Protein and fat which are found in cell
membranes and blood plasma and egg yolk

Molecular biology ٣٢٥ Sabah Linjawi ١٢

 References
„ www.vivo.colostate.edu/hbooks/genetics/.../prostruct.html
„ en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protein_structure
„ www.chemguide.co.uk/organicprops/.../proteinstruct.html
„ www.rothamsted.ac.uk/notebook/courses/guide/prot.htm
„ www.friedli.com/herbs/phytochem/proteins.html
„ themedicalbiochemistrypage.org/protein-structure.html
„ Molecular Biology. P.C. Turner, A.G. Mclennan, A.D. Bates &
M.R.H. White.School of Biological Sciences, University of Liverpool,
Liverpool, UK. Second edition. BIOS Scientific Publishers, 2000.

Molecular biology ٣٢٥ Sabah Linjawi ١٣