🧬 DAT Proteins and Enzymes: Structure, Levels, and Biological Roles

Proteins are tested in:

• Macromolecule ID

• Structure/function recognition

• Enzyme kinetics

• Genetics and transcription/translation

You’ll face questions on levels of protein structure, denaturation, and enzyme roles in reactions.

🧪 Protein Structure: The Four Levels

Level	Description	Key Bonds/Forces
Primary	Linear sequence of amino acids	Peptide bonds (covalent)
Secondary	Local folding into α-helices or β-sheets	Hydrogen bonds
Tertiary	3D folding driven by R-group interactions	H-bonds, ionic, disulfide, hydrophobic
Quaternary	Multiple polypeptide chains combined	Same as tertiary

📌 DAT Tip: Structure determines function. Denaturation destroys tertiary & quaternary structure.

🧬 Amino Acids: Protein Monomers

• Contain:

  • Central C atom

  • NH₂ (amino) group

  • COOH (carboxyl) group

  • R group (varies)

• Bonded via peptide bonds (formed by dehydration synthesis)

⚙️ Enzymes: Specialized Proteins

• Biological catalysts

• Speed up reactions by lowering activation energy

• Do not get consumed in the reaction

• Have active sites specific to substrates (lock-and-key or induced fit)

• Influenced by temperature, pH, substrate concentration

Enzyme Vocabulary:

Term	Meaning
Substrate	Molecule the enzyme acts on
Active site	Region where the substrate binds
Denaturation	Loss of function due to structural change
Coenzyme/Cofactor	Helper molecule for enzyme activity

🧠 DAT Sample Questions

• “What is the bond responsible for secondary protein structure?”

• “What happens when an enzyme denatures?”

• “What type of bond connects amino acids?”

• “Which level of protein structure is destroyed by heat?”

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✅ Summary

• Proteins = chains of amino acids joined by peptide bonds

• Know the four levels of structure and which are affected by denaturation

• Enzymes = protein catalysts with specific substrate interactions

• DAT loves testing protein structure and enzyme activity logic

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