Proteins

• What are the building blocks of proteins?

  Amino acids
• What is the central carbon atom in an amino acid called?

  Alpha Carbon (α-carbon)
• What groups are attached to the alpha carbon of an amino acid?

  Amino group, carboxyl group, hydrogen, R-group
• What is the formula for the structure of an amino acid?

  H-C-COOH, NH₂, R
• What type of reaction links amino acids together?

  Condensation reaction
• What is formed when two amino acids are linked?

  Dipeptide
• What is a peptide bond?

  Bond between carboxyl and amino groups
• What is a polypeptide?

  A long chain of amino acids
• What is the word equation for forming a dipeptide?

  Amino Acid 1 + Amino Acid 2 → Dipeptide + Water
• Why do vegan diets require careful planning regarding amino acids?

  Plant-based proteins may lack essential amino acids
• What are essential amino acids?

  Amino acids obtained from the diet
• How many naturally occurring amino acids are there?

  20
• What leads to the infinite variety of proteins?

  Different sequences and numbers of amino acids
• What is insulin?

  A hormone that regulates blood sugar
• What is collagen?

  A structural protein in connective tissues
• What is hemoglobin?

  A transport protein that carries oxygen
• What happens to proteins when exposed to extreme pH or temperature?

  They can lose their structure and function
• What bonds can be disrupted during protein denaturation?

  Hydrogen bonds, ionic bonds, disulfide bridges
• Is denaturation of proteins reversible?

  It can be reversible or irreversible
• How does stomach acid affect proteins?

  It denatures proteins in food for digestion
• What are the functions of proteins?

  • Enzymes: Catalyze biochemical reactions
  • Hormones: Regulate body functions
  • Transport Proteins: Carry molecules
  • Structural Proteins: Provide support
  • Regulatory Proteins: Control gene expression
• What are the two main types of protein shapes?

  • Globular Proteins: Spherical, water-soluble (e.g., enzymes, hormones)
  • Fibrous Proteins: Long, strand-like (e.g., keratin, collagen)
• How do abiotic factors influence protein structure?

  They can cause denaturation affecting function
• What is the relationship between the genome and proteome?

  The genome determines the proteome of an organism
• Why can 20 amino acids create an infinite variety of proteins?

  They can be arranged in any sequence and length
• What happens to a protein when it is denatured?

  It loses its secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures