What are Proteins?

An amino acid contains a carboxyl group and an amino group attached to the same carbon atom, called the alpha-carbon. A side chain, or R-group, extends from this central carbon and determines the amino acid's chemical identity and properties. The simplest amino acid is glycine, which has only a hydrogen atom as its side chain.

Amino acids are linked through covalent peptide bonds formed between the amino group of one amino acid and the carboxyl group of an adjacent amino acid. This process occurs through dehydration synthesis, where one water molecule is released during each linkage. The resulting chain forms the polypeptide backbone, with a free amino group at the N-terminus and a free carboxyl group at the C-terminus.

The 20 amino acids used in proteins have side chains classified into four groups: negative polar amino acids with carboxyl groups that act as acids; positive polar amino acids with amino groups that act as bases; polar uncharged amino acids that are hydrophilic; and nonpolar amino acids with hydrophobic side chains. These properties determine how amino acids interact and fold within proteins.

At low pH, both carboxyl and amino groups are protonated, making the amino acid act as a base. At high pH, both groups are deprotonated, causing it to act as an acid. At neutral pH, typical in physiological environments, the amino group is protonated and the carboxyl group is deprotonated, creating a zwitterion with both positive and negative charges.

Each protein's uniqueness depends on the number of amino acids in its chain and the specific sequence of their side chains. For example, thyroid-releasing hormone contains 234 amino acids, while the elastic muscle protein connectin has over 34,000. The side chain composition and arrangement directly influence how the protein folds and functions.

A polypeptide is a chain of amino acids linked by peptide bonds, with chains containing fewer than 20 amino acids called oligopeptides. A protein is a polypeptide that has folded into a three-dimensional structure and is ready to perform its specific cellular function. Length, structural complexity, and functionality distinguish proteins from simpler polypeptide chains.

Proteins serve diverse cellular functions including providing structural support like collagen, enabling movement through actin and myosin in muscles, catalyzing reactions as enzymes, transporting molecules across cell membranes, and defending organisms through antibodies. Together with carbohydrates, nucleic acids, and lipids, proteins are fundamental building blocks essential to all life.