BIOMOLECULES

Time Frame: FIFTH WEEK

Levels of Protein Organization

1. Primary Structure is simple the order of amino acids in a polypeptide strand. The amino
acid sequence is the main determinant of the overall structure of the protein and
determines its ultimate biological function.

2. Secondary Structure refers to the local three-dimensional folding of the polypeptide

chain in the protein. The alpha helix (spiral) and the beta sheet (beta strand forming an
accordion-like pleated sheet) are two more common secondary structure motifs.

3. Tertiary structure is formed when the distant segment of a primary structure and the
relationship of the side chains are bound in a three-dimensional folding of the entire
polypeptide chain.

4. Quaternary structure involves the fitting together of two or more polypeptide chains,
eventually forming a functional protein. Keratin and haemoglobin have quaternary
structures.

Types of Proteins According to Function

 There are different processes in the body that are influenced by different types of
proteins.

1. Structural proteins like collagen form cell parts. Collagen which is the most abundant
protein found in the human body is a type of structural protein that is fibrous in nature. It
gives strength and support to tissues that undergo continual wear and tear such as skin
and bone.
2. Transport proteins carry other substances around cells or from cell to cell.
3. Regulatory proteins control numerous cell processes. There are proteins that bind to
segments of DNA and bring about gene regulation.
4. Enzymes facilitate many chemical reactions. They do this by lowering the amount of
energy needed to start the reaction while not being permanently altered in the process.
Enzyme function is affected by different factors such as pH, temperature, and the
concentration of its substances.
5. Antibodies are highly specific proteins that are responsible for detecting a foreign
substance or “antigen.” The body produces specific antibody to respond to an antigen to
inactivate it.
6. Hormones serve as chemical messengers.

D. Nucleic Acids
Nucleic acids are large organic molecules that carry the “code of life.” They carry the
instructions both for characteristics passed on to the offspring and for translating the hereditary
message into proteins that will be built into new cell structure, cell, and organism.

There are 2 main types of nucleic acids: deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic
acid (RNA). These nucleic acids are polymers of nucleotides, their building blocks. DNA exists
as a double helix while RNA as a single helix

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Each nucleotide consists of three components: a purine or pyrimidine nucleobase

(nitrogenous base), a pentose sugar, and a phosphate group. Nucleic acid types differ in the
structure of the sugar in their nucleotides such as RNA contains ribose while DNA contains 2’-
deoxyribose.
 Four different nitrogen-containing bases are found in DNA: adenine, guanine, cytosine,
and thymine. RNA also contains adenine, guanine, and cytosine, but instead of thymine it has
uracil, its fourth base. These are the bases that make up the nucleic acid alphabet.

In addition, the sugar and phosphates in nucleic acids are linked to each other in an
alternative chain via phosphodiester linkages. DNA consists of two chains of nucleotides
twisted around each other in a double helix and held together by hydrogen bonds. On the other
hand, RNA is composed of single chains fold into complex shapes or remains stretched out as
long threads. It is the sequence of the nucleotides in the DNA.

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