Proteins and Nucleic Acids Overview

These flashcards cover key concepts related to proteins and nucleic acids as outlined in the lecture transcript.

Proteins

Polymers composed of 20 different amino acids.

Amino acids

Building blocks of proteins that connect via peptide bonds through dehydration synthesis.

Peptide bond

The bond that links amino acids together in a protein.

Primary structure of proteins

The linear amino acid sequence of a protein.

Secondary structure of proteins

The coiling of primary structure into alpha helices.

Tertiary structure of proteins

The folding of secondary structures into a three-dimensional shape.

Quaternary structure of proteins

Structure formed by two or more polypeptide chains.

Fibrous proteins

Structural proteins that are extended and strand-like, examples include elastin and collagen.

Globular proteins

Compact, spherical proteins with tertiary and quaternary structures, examples include antibodies and hormones.

Enzymes

Globular proteins that act as biological catalysts, facilitating chemical reactions.

Denaturation of proteins

The unfolding of proteins due to changes in pH and/or increases in temperature.

Molecular chaperones

Proteins that assist the folding and assembly of other proteins.

Nucleic acids

Biomolecules composed of nucleotides, which include DNA and RNA.

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

A double-stranded helical molecule found in the nucleus that replicates itself prior to cell division and provides instructions for protein synthesis.

Ribonucleic acid (RNA)

A single-stranded molecule involved in protein synthesis, found in the nucleus and cytoplasm, with three types: mRNA, tRNA, rRNA.

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)

A source of immediately usable energy, composed of adenine and three phosphate groups.