Proteins are a group of organic compounds whose molecules consist of carbon, oxygen, nitrogen and sometimes sulphur atoms. They are condensation polymers of amino acids. Each amino acid carries two functional groups ( an amino group – NH and a carboxyl group – COOH.) These two functional groups are attached to a alpha-carbon along with hydrogen and the ‘R’ group. The ‘R’ group differs from amino acid to amino acid.
Amino acids can be joined together by condensation. A hydrogen atom is removed from the amino group of one amino acid and this combines with an – OH group removed from the carboxylic acid of the other, forming a molecule of water. This is called a dipeptide bond. Longer chains are called polypeptides. The shape and the
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