Chemistry for Everyone
Protein Structure Wordsearch Terry L. Helser Chemistry Department, SUNY College at Oneonta, Oneonta, NY 13820-4015;
[email protected] This puzzle contains 37 names, terms, prefixes, and acronyms that describe protein structure. They may be in any linear direction. Find and highlight these terms in the matrix below. “STRUCTURE” is already done for you. Then, correctly transfer them to the blanks in the description that accompanies the matrix. Use the 18 unused letters remaining in the matrix to complete the sentence describing these molecules. Your success will be rewarded. The answers to Protein Structure Wordsearch are on page 493. Good hunting!
P F I B R O U S N I E T O R P O
H Y D R O G E N R A L U B O L G
X D E N A T U R A T I O N C E I
I E C N E U Q E S I C K L E A L
L G T D S A U F T E T F E L T O
E R M D I C A I R C S T L L E N
H A N D E D T B U E E L L A D E
N D E P H N E R C R D L A N I G
R A I R A P R O T E I N R E F A
O T S I L K N I U S T T A M L L
N I A M O D A N R D P E P I U L
I O N A A R R P E N E E S A S O
M N S R Y H Y D R O P H O B I C
A O Y Y E G D I R B E S B N D F
Use the remaining 18 letters to fill in the following sentence:
474
P _ _ _ _ _ _ _ have several levels of S T R U C T U R E. The P _ _ _ _ _ _ level is the A _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ S _ _ _ _ _ _ _. A change can cause diseases like S _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ A _ _ _ _ _. Sanger’s reagent, _ _ _ _, or the E _ _ _ _ D _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ can help determine it. F _ _ _ _ _ _ proteins display S _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ structures, like the α-_ _ _ _ _ in keratin or the _ _ _ _ - P _ _ _ _ _ _ _, β-_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _s in _ _ _ _ F _ _ _ _ _ _. C _ _ _ _ _ _ _ is made of three _ _ _ _ - H _ _ _ _ _ helical P _ _ _ _ _ _ _ wrapped around each other. These structures are maintained by H _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _. G _ _ _ _ _ _ _ proteins have T _ _ _ _ _ _ _ structure with a single chain folded into D _ _ _ _ _s stabilized by H _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ interactions, D _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ B _ _ _ _ _s, etc. Q _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ proteins with identical subunits are _ _ _ _ _mers. D _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ is the loss of native P _ _ _ _ _ _ conformation.
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Journal of Chemical Education • Vol. 78 No. 4 April 2001 • JChemEd.chem.wisc.edu
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In the Classroom
Answers to the Protein Structure Wordsearch on page 474
P F I B R O U S N I E T O R P O
H Y D R O G E N R A L U B O L G
X D E N A T U R A T I O N C E I
I E C N E U Q E S I C K L E A L
L G T D S A U F T E T F E L T O
E R M D I C A I R C S T L L E N
H A N D E D T B U E E L L A D E
N D E P H N E R C R D L A N I G
R A I R A P R O T E I N R E F A
O T S I L K N I U S T T A M L L
N I A M O D A N R D P E P I U L
I O N A A R R P E N E E S A S O
M N S R Y H Y D R O P H O B I C
A O Y Y E G D I R B E S B N D F
PROTEINS have several levels of STRUCTURE. The PRIMARY level is the AMINO ACID SEQUENCE. A change can cause diseases like SICKLE CELL ANEMIA. Sanger’s reagent, FDNB, or the EDMAN DEGRADATION can help determine it. FIBROUS proteins display SECONDARY structures, like the α-HELIX in keratin or the ANTI-PARALLEL, β - PLEATED SHEET s in SILK FIBROIN. COLLAGEN is made of three LEFT-HANDED helical PEPTIDES wrapped around each other. These structures are maintained by HYDROGEN BONDS. GLOBULAR proteins have TERTIARY structure with a single chain folded into DOMAINs stabilized by HYDROPHOBIC interactions, DISULFIDE BRIDGEs, etc. QUATERNARY proteins with identical subunits are OLIGOmers. DENATURATION is the loss of native PROTEIN conformation.
PROTEINS SHAPE CELLS.
JChemEd.chem.wisc.edu • Vol. 78 No. 4 April 2001 • Journal of Chemical Education
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