NTRI 2000
Chapter 6 Notes
The Structure of Proteins:
● Difference from carbs and fats
○ Contain nitrogen amino acids in addition to the carbon, hydrogen, and
oxygen atoms.
● Amino acids
○ Carbon atom with anime group and acid attached.
○ Have a distinctive chemical side chain attached to the center carbon of the
backbone. - important for fats and proteins.
● Essential amino acids
○ Nonessential amino acid can become essential amino acid called
conditionally essential amino acid
○ Can only be replenished by food
● Recycling
○ Body breaks protein and reuses their amino acids
Amino Acids:
● Single amino acids with different side chains can bond to form a strand of amino
acids, part of a protein.
● Basic process
, How do amino acids build protein?
● Peptide bonds
○ Link amino acids
● A string of about 10 to 50 amino acids is known as a polypeptide
● Strands of amino acids do not remain straight.
● Side chain electrically charged are attracted to water
● Several strands may cluster together into a functioning unit
○ A metal ion, a vitamin, or a carb molecule may join to build proteins.
● A protein molecule starts as a chain, then coils the strand, then folds the coil,
lastly adding a carb, vitamin, or mineral.
The variety of proteins:
● Protein shapes enable performance of different tasks.
● Some protein strands work alone, while others need association
● Hemoglobin is a folded protein that contains iron
Denaturation of proteins:
● Denaturing agents