Proteins Are Used as Both Structural Molecules And Enzymes to Catalyse Metabolic Reactions

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Proteins are used as both structural molecules and enzymes to catalyse metabolic reactions

Students learn to:

• describe the composition and general formula for amino acids
• identify the major functional groups in an amino acid
• outline the nature of a peptide bond and, using a specific example, describe the chemistry involved in the formation of a peptide bond
• explain, using a named example, the relationship between the chemical features of a protein and its shape using appropriate diagrams or models
• account for the shape of a protein molecule in terms of
  – electrostatic forces
  – hydrogen bonding forces
  – hydrophobic forces
  – disulfide bonds
• account for the process of protein denaturation
• identify enzymes as a special class of proteins with a binding site that is substrate specific
• using a named example of an enzyme, explain why the enzyme’s binding site is substrate specific

Students:

• process information from secondary sources to draw the generalised structural formula for an amino acid
• identify data, plan, choose equipment and perform first-hand investigations to observe the effect of changes in pH and temperature on the reaction of a named enzyme and use the available evidence to relate this to possible changes in the primary, secondary and/or tertiary structure of the enzyme involved
• process and analyse information from secondary sources to discuss the use of models in the development of understanding of enzyme function

Extract from Chemistry Stage 6 Syllabus (Amended October 2002). © 2009, Board of Studies NSW.