BIOCHEMISTRY | PROTEIN STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION | FIBROUS PROTEIN | NOTED BY FAKHRY (IG @SFAKHRYM)
v Overview
o Each fibrous protein exhibits special mechanical properties, resulting from its unique structure, which are obtained by combining specific
amino acids into regular, secondary structural elements;
o Contrast to globular proteins, whose shapes are the result of complex interactions between secondary, tertiary, and, sometimes,
quaternary structural elements
o Fibrous vs Globular protein
• Fibrous proteins are generally composed of long and narrow strands and have a structural unit role [the are something] | Globular
proteins generally have a more compact and rounded shape and have functional roles [they do something]
o Fibrous protein have some similar properties to each other:
• They contain long polypeptide chains with repeating sequences of amino acids
• The amino acids have non-polar R groups so the proteins are insoluble in water
• The polypeptide chains are able to form fibers which make the protein stronger
1
, BIOCHEMISTRY | PROTEIN STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION | FIBROUS PROTEIN | NOTED BY FAKHRY (IG @SFAKHRYM)
v Collagen
• It is the most abundant protein in the human body
• The typical is a long, rigid structure in which three polypeptide (referred to as α chains) are wound around one another in a rope-like triple
helix
• Although these molecules are found throughout the body, their types and organization are dictated by the structural role collagen plays in a
particular organ
o Types (see figure 4.2 p. 44)
• The collagen superfamily of proteins includes more than 25 collagen types as well as additional proteins that have collagen-like domains
• The three polypeptide α-chains are held together by interchain hydrogen bonds
2
v Overview
o Each fibrous protein exhibits special mechanical properties, resulting from its unique structure, which are obtained by combining specific
amino acids into regular, secondary structural elements;
o Contrast to globular proteins, whose shapes are the result of complex interactions between secondary, tertiary, and, sometimes,
quaternary structural elements
o Fibrous vs Globular protein
• Fibrous proteins are generally composed of long and narrow strands and have a structural unit role [the are something] | Globular
proteins generally have a more compact and rounded shape and have functional roles [they do something]
o Fibrous protein have some similar properties to each other:
• They contain long polypeptide chains with repeating sequences of amino acids
• The amino acids have non-polar R groups so the proteins are insoluble in water
• The polypeptide chains are able to form fibers which make the protein stronger
1
, BIOCHEMISTRY | PROTEIN STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION | FIBROUS PROTEIN | NOTED BY FAKHRY (IG @SFAKHRYM)
v Collagen
• It is the most abundant protein in the human body
• The typical is a long, rigid structure in which three polypeptide (referred to as α chains) are wound around one another in a rope-like triple
helix
• Although these molecules are found throughout the body, their types and organization are dictated by the structural role collagen plays in a
particular organ
o Types (see figure 4.2 p. 44)
• The collagen superfamily of proteins includes more than 25 collagen types as well as additional proteins that have collagen-like domains
• The three polypeptide α-chains are held together by interchain hydrogen bonds
2
