Basics of Protein Structure: Difference between revisions

Eric Martz (talk | contribs)
No edit summary
Eric Martz (talk | contribs)
No edit summary
Line 9: Line 9:


== Levels of Protein Structure ==
== Levels of Protein Structure ==
There are [[Four levels of protein structure|four different levels of protein structure]].  The <scene name='60/604417/Ins_bead_backbone_labels/1'>primary structure</scene> is the amino acid sequence. The amino acids are connected by an amide bond, made from the amino group (NH2) of one amino acid, and the carboxylic acid (C=O) from another amino acid. The amino acids are linked in a repeating pattern. The backbone of the protein is the repeating N-C-C=O pattern, with the side chains projecting out from the backbone. The end with the free -NH2 group is called the N terminus, while the end with a free carboxylic acid is called the C terminus.  The sequence of amino acids is written from the N terminus to the C terminus.   
There are [[Four levels of protein structure|four different levels of protein structure]].  The <scene name='60/604417/Ins_bead_backbone_labels/1'>primary structure</scene> is the amino acid sequence. The amino acids are connected by an amide bond, made from the amino group (NH2) of one amino acid, and the carboxylic acid (C=O) from another amino acid. The amino acids are linked in a repeating pattern. The [[Backbone representations|backbone]] of the protein is the repeating N-C-C=O pattern, with the side chains projecting out from the backbone. The end with the free -NH2 group is called the Amino or N terminus, while the end with a free carboxylic acid is called the C terminus.  The sequence of amino acids is written and numbered from the N terminus (where protein synthesis begins) to the C terminus (where amino acids are added during protein synthesis).   


The second level of structure is called secondary structure, and is the shape formed by short sequences of amino acids. This level of structure is stabilized by <scene name='57/575866/H_bond_a_helix/3'>hydrogen bonds</scene> along the <scene name='57/575866/Backbone/2'>backbone</scene>.
The second level of structure is called secondary structure, and is the shapes (conformations) formed by short sequences of amino acids. This level of structure is stabilized by <scene name='57/575866/H_bond_a_helix/3'>hydrogen bonds</scene> along the <scene name='57/575866/Backbone/2'>backbone</scene>. (More about [[hydrogen bonds]].) The two most common shapes are [[Helices in Proteins|alpha helices]] and [[Sheets in Proteins|beta strands]]. These are favored simply because [[Tutorial:Ramachandran principle and phi psi angles|two atoms cannot occupy the same space]] (steric collisions).




Line 42: Line 42:


* [[Intrinsically Disordered Protein]]
* [[Intrinsically Disordered Protein]]
}}
 
__NOTOC__
__NOTOC__
__NOEDITSECTION__
__NOEDITSECTION__

Proteopedia Page Contributors and Editors (what is this?)Proteopedia Page Contributors and Editors (what is this?)

Joel L. Sussman, Ann Taylor, Eric Martz