BIOLOGY 99

BIOLOGY 99

PROTEINS, NUCLEIC ACIDS, ATP

Proteins are a very diverse group of biological molecules in terms of their structure and function. The "building blocks" of proteins are 20 different naturally occurring amino acids. The relationship between amino acids and proteins is similar to the relationship between letters in the alphabet and words. A unique word is formed by combining letters in specific order. For example the letters "o" "t" and "w" can be ordered to form 2 different words, "tow" or "two." Each protein is unique because of the specific number and order (sequence) of its amino acids.

The following links may be helpful to your understanding of proteins:

Chem4Kids: Amino Acids
Chem4Kids: 20 different Amino Acids (just for fun)
Chem4Kids: Proteins
University of Akron19/(When you open this link there will be two frames in view; the frame on the left is a "table of contents" for this site. Click on "From the beginning" in the left frame and use the forward arrow view slides 19-1 through 19-3. Next click on "Primary Structure" in the left frame and use the forward arrow view slides 19-13 and 19-14. Then click on "Secondary Structure" in the left frame and use the forward arrow view slides 19-22 and 19-23 and 19-27 and 19-28. Lastly click on "Tertiary Structure" in the left frame and use the forward arrow view slides 19-35 and 19-57)

Nucleic acids are the molecules of genetics. DNA molecules are huge nucleic acids that make up our genes. It is our genes that provide our cells with the "instructions" for making proteins. A segment of a DNA molecule is the "master blueprint" for each protein a cell makes. RNA molecules are smaller nucleic acids that are also important in the process of protein synthesis in a cell.

The following links may be helpful to your understanding of nucleic acids

Chem4Kids: Nucleic Acids
University of Akron21/(When you open this link there will be two frames in view; the frame on the left is a "table of contents" for this site. Click on "From the beginning" in the left frame and use the forward arrow view slides 21-1 through 21-3. Lastly click on "RNA Types" in the left frame.

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