Download Protein Structure Activity

NNHS Biology 611 2016-17
Protein Structure Activity
Proteins are ubiquitous in organisms. That means they are everywhere! (There’s
even a protein called ubiquitin, and it’s in all cells and controls who “lives” and who
“dies” among all the proteins in the cell.)
All proteins have two things in common:
 They are all made of chains of building blocks called amino acids.
 The shape the chain of amino acids folds into is what makes each
chain into a protein with a specific function.
There are 20 different amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. Which ones, how
many, and in what order determine the shape of the chain that folds to make the
protein.
Each of the 20 amino acids has common features that enable it to polymerize, by
dehydration synthesis, with other amino acids.
Each of the 20 amino acids differs in one part of its structure, and these differences
are what determine the ultimate shape and properties of the protein.
Keep in mind that this is a model, and not what the amino acids actually look like!
Amino Acid #1
Amino Acid #2
The -OH on the right side of the model, and the H- on the left side of the model are
lost as a molecule of H2O during dehydration synthesis.
NNHS Biology 611 2016-17
DO THIS:
1) Fold a piece of paper once in a hot dog fold, and then fold the hot dog into
thirds with hamburger folds.
2) Unfold your paper. It should have 6 sections, like this:
3) In each of the 6 sections, draw a basic amino acid like #1 or #2 on the
previous page.
4) Cut along the folded lines so you have 6 separate amino acids.
5) Walk around the room and polymerize a polypeptide chain by carrying out
dehydration synthesis with your amino acids. You’ll need scissors and tape to
do this. NOTE: Save the water molecules you make in the process!
NNHS Biology 611 2016-17
This is a table of all 20 amino acids. Don’t worry. You do not have to learn them all!
This is just to show you how they differ, and to give you an idea why different
combinations will end up being very different proteins!
NNHS Biology 611 2016-17
You are being assigned a protein that is found commonly in the human body, or has
some significance in the human diet.
Do a little on-line research and find out where this protein is found (e.g. in what kind
of tissue) and what it does. Is it a structural protein? Is it an enzyme? Does it have a
different function If so, what is that function?
Go to: PDB101 https://pdb101.rcsb.org/ and find your protein. Take a good look at
its shape. How would you describe it?
Can you make a connection to the shape of the protein and its function?
For homework, make a mini-poster of your protein (8.5” x 11”) on the card stock
provided. Include:
 The name of your protein
 The function of your protein
 In what tissues or structures your protein is found
 A picture of a model of your protein molecule
1. Hemoglobin A
2. ABO glycosyltransferase
3. Alpha-amylase
4. Lactate dehydrogenase
5. Thrombin
6. Collagen
7. Beta crystallin
8. Tubulin (Microtubules)
9. Catalase
10. Myoglobin
11. Anti-freeze proteins
12. Fibrin
13. Pepsin
14. Serum albumin
15. Glucagon
16. Antibodies
17. RuBisCo
18. Nitrogenase
19. Myosin
20. Actin
21. Titin
22. Influenza neuraminidase
23. Rhodopsin
24. Insulin