AS.020.305 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Ab Initio, Scurvy, Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy
Document Summary
Proteins contain a wide range of functional groups: alcohols, thiols, thioethers, carboxylic acids, and carboxamides are all present in proteins, most groups are reactive, the range of functional groups accounts for the wide variety of protein functions. Proteins can interact with one another and with other biological macromolecules, forming complex assemblies: proteins within assemblies can act synergistically with one another. Some proteins are rigid and others are flexible: rigid proteins can act as structural elements or in connective tissue, flexible proteins can act as springs or hinges for rigid proteins. Proteins are built from 20 amino acids: -amino acids: -carbon is linked to the amino group, a carboxylic acid, a hydrogen, and an r group, chiral: when four different groups are attached to the same -carbon. There are two isomers for chiral molecules: l and d. Only l amino acids are constituents of proteins. In acid, the amino group is protonated and the carboxylic acid group is not dissociated.
