AMINO ACIDS & PROTEINS
Amino Acids
Enzymes (like other proteins) are polymers made from the 20 amino
acids. An amino acid is a molecule with an amino group and a
carboxylic acid group. The amino group of one reacts with the
carboxylic acid of another as they become linked forming a protein.
Each of the 20 has its own "personality" determined by its sidechain.
A few examples:
Complete list
PROTEINS
There are two major ways that the protein polymer will fold in on
itself, as a helix
or as a sheet.
You may find this tutorial using Protein
G which has both structures useful. Much of the protein shape is
determined by hydrophobic structures burying themselves in the middle
of the protein.
You shouldn't think of the proteins as static structures but rather
as waving
and jiggling (sort of like the
dancing baby)
Enzymes
Enzymes are proteins which catalyze specific reactions by binding
certain molecules (substrates) and then sterically and electronically
distorting them. The active
site of an enzyme is where the substrates are bound and
distorted.
