Protein Structure Lab Report

Proteins are an essential part of all living organisms. Proteins are macromolecules made up of amino acid chains. These chains of amino acids are held together by peptide bonds to from polypeptide chains. Each proteins function is determined by its own unique three dimensional shape and active site. Proteins have multiple functions that are important to all cells. They provide a structural support for cells, help transport materials across the cell membrane, and have the ability to speed up chemical reactions. Proteins have four levels of structure. The primary structure includes the sequence of amino acids. The secondary level refers to the protein backbone and the type of structure such as alpha helixes and beta sheets. The two types of structures pack together into stable domains. Alpha helix is the prevalent type of structure and has a spiral shape. The beta sheet type of structure is a pleated structure that can be considered to be either parallel or antiparallel. The tertiary level of a protein

Mutations of the three amino acid residues, His 320, Asp 375, and His 274, can cause the absence of polarization of the oxaloacetate during the Krebs Cycle. The citryl-coA is hydrolyzed slower than normal and the catalytic ability is greatly deteriorated. In another experiment, citrate synthase enzyme was analyzed and experimented with to determine if it had any linkage to Warburg effect to tumor malignancy. It was concluded that reducing the citrate synthase expression does indeed correlate with alterations in cellular bioenergetics. In cancer cells the citrate synthase expression was lower than a normal cell and it was determined that the expression also correlated with the change of cellular bioenergetics from aerobic respiration to glycolysis (Lin et al., 2012). There is still more research that needs to be down with this protein to determine more about genetic diseases and