Basics of Protein Structure: Difference between revisions
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Proteins perform many important functions in living organisms, including movement, immune responses, sensing the environment, energy acquisition, and catalyzing reactions. The protein shown to the right is insulin; when insulin isn't properly synthesized or responded to, diabetes occurs. | Proteins perform many important functions in living organisms, including movement, immune responses, sensing the environment, energy acquisition, and catalyzing reactions. The protein shown to the right is insulin; when insulin isn't properly synthesized or responded to, diabetes occurs. | ||
Proteins are long [[chains]] of [[Amino Acids]], and are synthesized by the ribosome, using messenger RNA as a template. There are 20 amino acids commonly found in proteins. <scene name='60/604417/Ala/1'>Amino acids</scene> contain an <scene name='60/604417/Ala_amino/1'>amino group</scene>, a central carbon atom called the alpha carbon, and a <scene name='60/604417/Ala_cooh/1'>carboxylic acid</scene>. The 20 amino acids differ by what is attached to the central atom; is variable portion is referred to as the <scene name='60/604417/Ala_side_chain/1'>side chain</scene>. The amino acid shown is alanine; its side chain is a methyl (-CH3) group. The atoms are displayed using the coloring convention Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen:{{Template:ColorKey_Element_C}}, {{Template:ColorKey_Element_H}}, {{Template:ColorKey_Element_O}}, {{Template:ColorKey_Element_N}} | Proteins are long [[chains]] of [[Amino Acids]], and are synthesized by the [[ribosome]], using messenger [[RNA]] as a template. There are 20 amino acids commonly found in proteins. <scene name='60/604417/Ala/1'>Amino acids</scene> contain an <scene name='60/604417/Ala_amino/1'>amino group</scene>, a central carbon atom called the alpha carbon, and a <scene name='60/604417/Ala_cooh/1'>carboxylic acid</scene>. The 20 amino acids differ by what is attached to the central atom; is variable portion is referred to as the <scene name='60/604417/Ala_side_chain/1'>side chain</scene>. The amino acid shown is alanine; its side chain is a methyl (-CH3) group. The atoms are displayed using the coloring convention Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen:{{Template:ColorKey_Element_C}}, {{Template:ColorKey_Element_H}}, {{Template:ColorKey_Element_O}}, {{Template:ColorKey_Element_N}} | ||
Proteins are sometimes compared to <scene name='60/604417/Ins_bead_backbone/3'>beads on a string</scene>, where each amino acid residue is a bead. These long chains form complicated structures that allow them to perform their function. Even small alterations in any level of the structure can change how the protein does its job, and can lead to diseases. | Proteins are sometimes compared to <scene name='60/604417/Ins_bead_backbone/3'>beads on a string</scene>, where each amino acid residue is a bead. These long chains form complicated structures that allow them to perform their function. Even small alterations in any level of the structure can change how the protein does its job, and can lead to diseases. | ||