Explain about Protein

Definition of Protein – Large molecules of organic substances which 8s made up of hydrogen, carbon, oxygen, nitrogen and essential for the cellular structure, metabolism and development are called proteins.

In 1838 Berzelius discovered the amino acid polymers. This is made up of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen.

Types of Protein – Protein can be of different types according to their structure and polypeptide number.

• According to number of polypeptide - According to number of polypeptide protein can be divided into two group- 

Monomeric Protein – This type of protein form from one polypeptide chain. Examples of this type of protein is myoglobin, lysozyme etc.

Oligomeric Protein - This type of protein made up of two or more than two number of polypeptide. Examples of this type of proteins are haemoglobin, insulin, immunoglobulins etc. Minimum molecular weight of this proteins are 4500 (adrenocorticotropic hormone with 39 amino acids).

• According to the structure of proteins- 

Primary Structure - A polypeptide is formed of linear row of amino acids joined by peptide bond.

Secondary Structure - It is of two main types, alpha helix, beta pleated sheet. In alpha helix, single chain amino acids are coiled spirally and formed hydrogen bond between first and fourth amino acid. In beta pleated sheet two or more parallel or anti parallelpolypeptide chains holded by the hydrogenbonds.

Tertiary Structure - In tertiary structure there are several foldings of protein are observed. Five types of bonds are involved in tertiary vander Waals, ionic bonds, hydrogen bonds, disulphide bonds, hydrophobic interactions.

• According to shape of protein- 

Fibrous proteins - Shape of proteins are fibre like. Examples are actin, elastin, collagen etc.

Globular proteins - Examples are haemoglobin, egg albumin, serum globulin etc.

• According to the charge of amino acids –

Basic Proteins - They contain maximum number of basic amino acids. Examples are lysine, histones, arginine etc.

Acidic Proteins - Made up of maximum number of acidic amino acids. Examples are aspartic acid, glutamic acid.

Neutral Protein - In this type of protein number of positive amino acid and number of negative charge amino acids are equal. So, the overall charge is neutral. Examples of the type of proteins are- 

• According to source of protein- 

First class protein - Contains all the essential amino acids. Example protein in meat, milk, egg etc.

Second Class Protein - Lack of one or more essential amino acids. Example plant proteins like rubisco.

• According to the constituents- 

Simple Protein - These are only made up of protein molecules. Examples of this storage proteins are albumin, globulin, wheat etc.

Conjugated Protein - In this type of protein additional groupremain attached. Example of this type of protein are - DNA and RNA etc.

Derived Protein - This include proteoses, peptone, metaprotein etc.

Functions of Proteins - Proteins are important building block of body. Several functions of protein are –

1. Basic building blocks of body- 

2. Produce the hard part of the animals- keratin, collagen, elastin

3. Produce different biomolecules for transport- 

4. Major composition of cell membrane and wall – 

5. Main component for hormones and enzymes.

6. Bind with metal to form pigment molecules.

Eleventh Grade

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