STRUCTURE OF PROTEINS
By,
DAMARIS BENNY DANIEL
• Proteins are an important class of
biological macromolecules
which are the polymers of amino
acids.
• Biochemists have distinguished
several levels of structural
organization of proteins. They
are:
– Primary structure
– Secondary structure
– Tertiary structure
– Quaternary structure
INTRODUCTION
PRIMARY STRUCTURE
• The primary structure of protein refers to the sequence of amino
acids present in the polypeptide chain.
• Amino acids are covalently linked by peptide bonds.
• Each component amino acid in a polypeptide is called a “residue” or
“moiety”
• By convention, the 10 structure of a protein starts from the amino-
terminal (N) end and ends in the carboxyl-terminal (C) end.
IMPORTANCE OF PRIMARY STRUCTURE
• To predict 20 and 30 structures from sequence homologies with
related proteins. (Structure prediction)
• Many genetic diseases result from abnormal amino acid sequences.
• To understand the molecular mechanism of action of proteins.
• To trace evolutionary paths.
• End group analysis – Edman degradation.
• Gene sequencing method.
METHODS OF AMINO ACID SEQUENCE DETERMINATION
SECONDARY STRUCTURE
• Localized arrangement of adjacent amino acids formed as the polypeptide
chain folds.
• It consists of
• Linus Pauling proposed some essential features of peptide units and
polypeptide backbone. They are:
– The amide group is rigid and planar as a result of resonance. So rotation
about C-N bond is not feasible.
– Rotation can take place only about N- Cα and Cα – C bonds.
– Trans configuration is more stable than cis for R grps at Cα
• From these conclusions Pauling postulated 2 ordered structures α helix and
β sheet
α-helix
β-pleated sheet
β-bends
Non repetitive structures
Super secondary structures
POLYPEPTIDE
CHAIN CONFORMATIONS
• The only reasonably free movements
are rotations around the C α-N bond
(measured as ϕ ) and the C α-C bond
(measured as Ѱ).
• The conformation of the backbone
can therefore be described by the
torsion angles (also called dihedral
angles or rotation angles)
• Spiral structure
• Tightly packed, coiled polypeptide
backbone core.
• Side chain extend outwards
• Stabilized by H bonding b/w
carbonyl oxygen and amide
hydrogen.
• Amino acids per turn – 3.6
• Pitch is 5.4 A
• Alpha helical segments are found in
many globular proteins like
myoglobins, troponin- C etc.
ALPHA HELIX
H bonding
• Formed when 2 or more polypeptides
line up side by side.
• Individual polypeptide - β strand
• Each β strand is fully extended.
• They are stabilized by H bond b/w N-H
and carbonyl grps of adjacent chains.
BETA PLEATED SHEET
2 types
Parallel Anti -Parallel
N C N
N NC
C
C
SECONDARY STRUCTURE
EXAMPLES
The collagen triple helix.
Silk fibroin beta sheet.
BETA BENDS
• Permits the change of direction of the
peptide chain to get a folded structure.
• It gives a protein globularity rather than
linearity.
• H bond stabilizes the beta bend
structure.
• Proline and Glycine are frequently
found in beta turns.
• Beta turns often promote the formation
of antiparallel beta sheets.
• Occur at protein surfaces.
• Involve four successive aminoacid
residues
NON REPETITIVE STRUCTURES
• A significant portion of globular
protein’s structure may be irregular
or unique.
• They include coils and loops.
• Segments of polypeptide chains
whose successive residues do not
have similar ϕ and Ѱ values are
called coils.
• Almost all proteins with more than
60 residues contain one or more
loops of 6 to 16 residues, called Ω
loops.
Space-filling model of an Ω loop
TERTIARY STRUCTURE
• Tertiary structure is the three-
dimensional conformation of a
polypeptide.
• The common features of protein
tertiary structure reveal much about
the biological functions of the proteins
and their evolutionary origins.
• The function of a protein depends on
its tertiary structure. If this is disrupted,
it loses its activity.
DOMAINS
• Polypeptide chains containing more than ,200 residues usually
fold into two or more globular clusters known as domains.
• Fundamental functional and 3 dimensional structure of
proteins.
• Domains often have a specific function such as the binding of
a small molecule.
• Many domains are structurally independent units that have the
characteristics of small globular proteins.
The two-domain protein glyceraldehyde-
3-phosphate dehydrogenase.
NAD+
INTERACTIONS STABILIZING 30
STRUCTURE
• This final shape is
determined by a variety of
bonding interactions
between the "side chains"
on the amino acids.
• Hydrogen bonds
• Ionic Bonds
• Disulphide Bridges
• Hydrophobic Interactions:
TERTIARY STRUCTURE
DETERMINATION OF TERTIARY
STRUCTURE
• The known protein structures have come to light through:
• X-ray crystallographic studies
• Nuclear Magnetic Resonance studies
• The atomic coordinates of most of these structures are
deposited in a database known as the Protein Data Bank
(PDB).
• It allows the tertiary structures of a variety of proteins to be
analyzed and compared.
• The biological function of some
molecules is determined by multiple
polypeptide chains –
multimeric proteins.
• Arrangement of polypeptide sub unit
is called quaternary structure.
• Sub units are held together by non
covalent interactions.
• Eg: Hemoglobin has the subunit
composition a2b2
QUATERNARY STRUCTURE
Quaternary structure of hemoglobin.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
• A team of scientists at The Scripps Research Institute and the
National Institutes of Health (NIH) has discovered the
structure of a protein – dynamin, that pinches off tiny pouches
from cell’s outer membranes.
• Scientists at the Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology
have revealed the structure of a complex protein called FimD
that acts as an assembly platform for the pili of cystitis
bacteria.
• Researchers from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute have
found a structural surprise in a type of protein, Bcl-w ,that
encourages cell survival, raising interesting questions about
how the proteins function to influence programmed cell death.
CONCLUSION
• Proteins are extraordinarily complex molecules. Of all the
molecules encountered in living organisms, proteins have the
most diverse functions.
• So a basic understanding of the structure of proteins is
necessary to comprehend its role in organisms.
• Further researches will provide more insight into the structure
of several other proteins in the coming year.
REFERENCE
• Voet, Donald; Voet Judith. Biochemistry, 3rd edition, John
Wiley and sons.
• Champe, Pamela.C, Harvey, Richard A, Ferrier Denise R
(2005). Lippincott’s Illustrated Reviews: Biochemistry, 3rd
edition. Lippincott William and Wilkins.
• McKee Trudy, McKee James R (2003), Biochemistry: The
molecular basis of life, 3rd edition, McGraw Hill.
• http://esciencenews.com/articles/2011/06/01/new.antibiotics.a.
step.closer.with.discovery.bacterial.protein.structure
• http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-04/sri-
srs042610.php
• http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-10-cell-survival-protein-
reveals.html

structure of protins

  • 1.
  • 2.
  • 3.
    • Proteins arean important class of biological macromolecules which are the polymers of amino acids. • Biochemists have distinguished several levels of structural organization of proteins. They are: – Primary structure – Secondary structure – Tertiary structure – Quaternary structure INTRODUCTION
  • 4.
    PRIMARY STRUCTURE • Theprimary structure of protein refers to the sequence of amino acids present in the polypeptide chain. • Amino acids are covalently linked by peptide bonds. • Each component amino acid in a polypeptide is called a “residue” or “moiety” • By convention, the 10 structure of a protein starts from the amino- terminal (N) end and ends in the carboxyl-terminal (C) end.
  • 5.
    IMPORTANCE OF PRIMARYSTRUCTURE • To predict 20 and 30 structures from sequence homologies with related proteins. (Structure prediction) • Many genetic diseases result from abnormal amino acid sequences. • To understand the molecular mechanism of action of proteins. • To trace evolutionary paths. • End group analysis – Edman degradation. • Gene sequencing method. METHODS OF AMINO ACID SEQUENCE DETERMINATION
  • 6.
    SECONDARY STRUCTURE • Localizedarrangement of adjacent amino acids formed as the polypeptide chain folds. • It consists of • Linus Pauling proposed some essential features of peptide units and polypeptide backbone. They are: – The amide group is rigid and planar as a result of resonance. So rotation about C-N bond is not feasible. – Rotation can take place only about N- Cα and Cα – C bonds. – Trans configuration is more stable than cis for R grps at Cα • From these conclusions Pauling postulated 2 ordered structures α helix and β sheet α-helix β-pleated sheet β-bends Non repetitive structures Super secondary structures
  • 7.
    POLYPEPTIDE CHAIN CONFORMATIONS • Theonly reasonably free movements are rotations around the C α-N bond (measured as ϕ ) and the C α-C bond (measured as Ѱ). • The conformation of the backbone can therefore be described by the torsion angles (also called dihedral angles or rotation angles)
  • 8.
    • Spiral structure •Tightly packed, coiled polypeptide backbone core. • Side chain extend outwards • Stabilized by H bonding b/w carbonyl oxygen and amide hydrogen. • Amino acids per turn – 3.6 • Pitch is 5.4 A • Alpha helical segments are found in many globular proteins like myoglobins, troponin- C etc. ALPHA HELIX H bonding
  • 9.
    • Formed when2 or more polypeptides line up side by side. • Individual polypeptide - β strand • Each β strand is fully extended. • They are stabilized by H bond b/w N-H and carbonyl grps of adjacent chains. BETA PLEATED SHEET 2 types Parallel Anti -Parallel N C N N NC C C
  • 10.
  • 11.
    EXAMPLES The collagen triplehelix. Silk fibroin beta sheet.
  • 12.
    BETA BENDS • Permitsthe change of direction of the peptide chain to get a folded structure. • It gives a protein globularity rather than linearity. • H bond stabilizes the beta bend structure. • Proline and Glycine are frequently found in beta turns. • Beta turns often promote the formation of antiparallel beta sheets. • Occur at protein surfaces. • Involve four successive aminoacid residues
  • 13.
    NON REPETITIVE STRUCTURES •A significant portion of globular protein’s structure may be irregular or unique. • They include coils and loops. • Segments of polypeptide chains whose successive residues do not have similar ϕ and Ѱ values are called coils. • Almost all proteins with more than 60 residues contain one or more loops of 6 to 16 residues, called Ω loops. Space-filling model of an Ω loop
  • 14.
    TERTIARY STRUCTURE • Tertiarystructure is the three- dimensional conformation of a polypeptide. • The common features of protein tertiary structure reveal much about the biological functions of the proteins and their evolutionary origins. • The function of a protein depends on its tertiary structure. If this is disrupted, it loses its activity.
  • 15.
    DOMAINS • Polypeptide chainscontaining more than ,200 residues usually fold into two or more globular clusters known as domains. • Fundamental functional and 3 dimensional structure of proteins. • Domains often have a specific function such as the binding of a small molecule. • Many domains are structurally independent units that have the characteristics of small globular proteins. The two-domain protein glyceraldehyde- 3-phosphate dehydrogenase. NAD+
  • 16.
    INTERACTIONS STABILIZING 30 STRUCTURE •This final shape is determined by a variety of bonding interactions between the "side chains" on the amino acids. • Hydrogen bonds • Ionic Bonds • Disulphide Bridges • Hydrophobic Interactions:
  • 17.
  • 18.
    DETERMINATION OF TERTIARY STRUCTURE •The known protein structures have come to light through: • X-ray crystallographic studies • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance studies • The atomic coordinates of most of these structures are deposited in a database known as the Protein Data Bank (PDB). • It allows the tertiary structures of a variety of proteins to be analyzed and compared.
  • 19.
    • The biologicalfunction of some molecules is determined by multiple polypeptide chains – multimeric proteins. • Arrangement of polypeptide sub unit is called quaternary structure. • Sub units are held together by non covalent interactions. • Eg: Hemoglobin has the subunit composition a2b2 QUATERNARY STRUCTURE Quaternary structure of hemoglobin.
  • 20.
    RECENT DEVELOPMENTS • Ateam of scientists at The Scripps Research Institute and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has discovered the structure of a protein – dynamin, that pinches off tiny pouches from cell’s outer membranes. • Scientists at the Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology have revealed the structure of a complex protein called FimD that acts as an assembly platform for the pili of cystitis bacteria. • Researchers from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute have found a structural surprise in a type of protein, Bcl-w ,that encourages cell survival, raising interesting questions about how the proteins function to influence programmed cell death.
  • 21.
    CONCLUSION • Proteins areextraordinarily complex molecules. Of all the molecules encountered in living organisms, proteins have the most diverse functions. • So a basic understanding of the structure of proteins is necessary to comprehend its role in organisms. • Further researches will provide more insight into the structure of several other proteins in the coming year.
  • 22.
    REFERENCE • Voet, Donald;Voet Judith. Biochemistry, 3rd edition, John Wiley and sons. • Champe, Pamela.C, Harvey, Richard A, Ferrier Denise R (2005). Lippincott’s Illustrated Reviews: Biochemistry, 3rd edition. Lippincott William and Wilkins. • McKee Trudy, McKee James R (2003), Biochemistry: The molecular basis of life, 3rd edition, McGraw Hill. • http://esciencenews.com/articles/2011/06/01/new.antibiotics.a. step.closer.with.discovery.bacterial.protein.structure • http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-04/sri- srs042610.php • http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-10-cell-survival-protein- reveals.html