PROTEINS

Introduction:
- Protein (from the Greek protas meaning "of primary importance") is a complex, highmolecular-weight organic compound that consists of amino acids joined by peptide bonds.
- Proteins are natural polymer molecules consisting of amino acid units. The number of
amino acids in proteins may range from two to several thousand.
- Proteins are probably the most important class of biochemical molecules, although of
course lipids and carbohydrates are also essential for life. Proteins are the basis for the
major structural components of animal and human tissue.
- Proteins are essential to the structure and function of all living cells and viruses. Many
proteins are enzymes or subunits of enzymes, catalyzing chemical reactions. Other proteins
play structural or mechanical roles, such as those that form the struts and joints of the
cytoskeleton, serving as biological scaffolds for the mechanical integrity and tissue
signaling functions.
- Proteins can be hydrolyzed by acids, bases or specific enzymes.

Primary Protein Structure:

- Proteins are biopolymers built from 20 different L-alpha-amino acids.
- The two ends of the amino acid chain are referred to as the carboxy terminus (Cterminus) and the amino terminus (N-terminus) based on the nature of the free group on
each extremity.
- Biochemists refer to four distinct aspects of a protein's structure:
1 Page

Organized by: Sharifa Al-Ghamdi& Huda Al-Shaibi

1- Primary structure: the amino acid sequence. In order to function properly, peptides and
proteins must have the correct sequence of amino acids.

2- Secondary structure: is the specific geometric shape caused by intramolecular and

intermolecular hydrogen bonding of amide groups. Some combinations of amino acids will
tend to form:
Alpha Helix: In the alpha helix, the polypeptide chain is coiled tightly in the fashion of a
spring. The "backbone" of the peptide forms the inner part of the coil while the side chains
extend outward from the coil. The helix is stabilized by hydrogen bonds between the >N-H
of one amino acid and the >C=O on the 4th amino acid away from it.
Beta Pleated Sheet: In this structure, individual protein chains are aligned side-by-side
with every other protein chain aligned in an opposite direction. The protein chains are held
together by intermolecular hydrogen bonding, that is hydrogen bonding between amide
groups of two separate chains. This intermolecular hydrogen bonding in the beta-pleated
sheet is in contrast to the intramolecular hydrogen bonding in the alpha-helix.
2 Page

Organized by: Sharifa Al-Ghamdi& Huda Al-Shaibi

3- Tertiary structure: is the entire three-dimensional shape of the protein. This shape is
determined by the sequence of amino acids. The overall shape of a single protein molecule
primarily formed by hydrophobic interactions, but hydrogen bonds, ionic interactions, and
disulfide bonds are usually involved too.

4- Quaternary structure: the shape or structure that results from the union of more than
one protein molecule, usually called protein subunits in this context, which function as part
of the larger assembly or protein complex.

3 Page

Organized by: Sharifa Al-Ghamdi& Huda Al-Shaibi

Denaturation of Proteins:
- Denaturation is the disruption of secondary, tertiary and quaternary structure of proteins
leading to loss of their biological activity.
- Proteins denature when they lose their three-dimensional structure - their chemical
conformation and thus their characteristic folded structure. Proteins may be denatured at
the secondary, tertiary and quaternary structural levels, but not at the primary structural
level.
- Denaturation may be caused by:
1- Physical factors such as heating.
2- Chemical factors such as strong acid or base.

Denaturated proteins are characterized by:

1-Loss of function: Most biological proteins lose their biological function when denatured,
for example, enzymes lose their catalytic activity.
2- They become less soluble. As a result, they are easily precipitated.

4 Page

Organized by: Sharifa Al-Ghamdi& Huda Al-Shaibi

3- Reversibility and irreversibility: In many proteins (unlike egg whites), denaturation is

reversible (the proteins can regain their native state when the denaturing influence is
removed).

5 Page

Organized by: Sharifa Al-Ghamdi& Huda Al-Shaibi

Qualitative Tests for Proteins

1- Biuret Test:
- It is the general test for all proteins.
- Biuret reagent is dilute CuSO4 in strong alkaline medium.
- Alkaline CuSO4 reacts with all compounds containing 2 or more peptide bonds to give a
blue-violet color.
Method:
1 ml of biuret reagent + 1 ml of protein mix well>>>> blue-violet color.

2- Denaturation by heat and extreme pH:

- Extreme heating and pH (conc. acids) denature proteins leading to precipitation of
proteins.
Method:
3ml Protein >>>>>>BWB-10min >>>>>> ppt of protein.
3ml Protein >>>>>> drops conc.HCL >>>>>> ppt of protein.

6 Page

Organized by: Sharifa Al-Ghamdi& Huda Al-Shaibi

3- Precipitation of proteins by heavy metals:

- Proteins are precipitated in alkaline medium with heavy metals due to the direct union of
cation (Cu++, Ag+, Ba++, Pb++) with anionic groups of proteins, which are formed in basic
medium.
- At alkaline pH 7 and above, proteins are usually negatively charged so the addition of
positively charged ions will neutralize this charge and the proteins come out of solution (i.e.
heavy metals combine with proteins forming insoluble metalloproteine).
Method:
Few drops of heavy metals + 2ml protein + few drops 10% NaOH>>>>ppt

4- Precipitation of proteins by acidic reagent:

- Proteins are precipitated in acidic medium with some reagents such as TCA, picric acid
and tannic acid due to the direct union of the anionic group with the cationic groups of the
proteins, which are formed in acidic medium.
- These compounds carry large negative charges which neutralize the positively charged
protein to form insoluble salt complex with protein.
- The acidic reagents are therefore most effective at acidic medium where proteins are
positively charged.
Method:
Few drops of acidic reagent + 2ml protein >>>slowly add dilute NaOH and observe the
result as the pH increase.

3- Detection of Amino acids contents of Protein:

Carry on all the experiments you have done in amino acids lab on proteins to detect the
amino acid content of each protein.

References:
www.chemtopics.com
www.wikipedia.org
7 Page

Organized by: Sharifa Al-Ghamdi& Huda Al-Shaibi

RESULTS & LAB REPORT

- Present your results in a good and full lab report.

8 Page

Organized by: Sharifa Al-Ghamdi& Huda Al-Shaibi