Proteins

Proteins are polymers (and macromolecules) made of monomers called?amino acids

The sequence, type and number of the amino acids within a protein determines its shape and therefore its function

Proteins are extremely important in cells because they form all of the following:

Enzymes

Cell membrane proteins (eg. carrier)

Hormones

Immunoproteins (eg. immunoglobulins)

Transport proteins (eg. haemoglobin)

Structural proteins (eg. keratin, collagen)

Contractile proteins (eg. myosin)

Amino acid

Amino acids are the?monomers?of proteins

There are 20 amino acids found in proteins common to all living organisms

The general structure of all amino acids is a central carbon atom bonded to:

An?amine?group -NH₂

A?carboxylic acid?group -COOH

A?hydrogen?atom

An?R?group (which is how each amino acid differs and why amino acid properties differ e.g. whether they are acidic or basic or whether they are polar or non-polar)

The generalised structure of an amino acid

Peptide bond

In order to form a?peptide bond?a hydroxyl (-OH) is lost from the carboxylic group of one amino acid and a hydrogen atom is lost from the amine group of another amino acid

The remaining carbon atom (with the double-bonded oxygen) from the first amino acid bonds to the nitrogen atom of the second amino acid

This is a?condensation?reaction so water is released

Dipeptides?are formed by the condensation of?two?amino acids

Polypeptides?are formed by the condensation of?many?(3 or more) amino acids

A protein may have only one polypeptide chain or it may have multiple chains interacting with each other

During?hydrolysis?reactions, the addition of water?breaks the peptide bonds?resulting in polypeptides being broken down to amino acids

Amino acids are bonded together by covalent peptide bonds to form a dipeptide in a condensation reaction