Chapter 11. How Proteins Work
Published Online: 27 JAN 2004
DOI: 10.1002/047146158X.ch11
Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Book Title
Cell Biology: A Short Course, Second Edition
Additional Information
How to Cite
Bolsover, S. R., Hyams, J. S., Shephard, E. A., White, H. A. and Wiedemann, C. G. (2004) How Proteins Work, in Cell Biology: A Short Course, Second Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, NJ, USA. doi: 10.1002/047146158X.ch11
Publication History
- Published Online: 27 JAN 2004
- Published Print: 14 NOV 2003
ISBN Information
Print ISBN: 9780471263937
Online ISBN: 9780471461586
- Summary
- Chapter
Keywords:
- ligand;
- allostery;
- phosphorylation;
- enzyme;
- catalytic rate constant;
- Michaelis constant;
- specificity constant;
- activation energy;
- cofactor;
- prosthetic group
Summary
In this chapter we describe how proteins carry out their various tasks. Most bind other molecules - ligands - more or less specifically. Many change shape, and the preferred shape may be affected by pH or phosphorylation. Allostery occurs when ligand binding affects which shape is preferred. Enzymes are protein catalysts and can be analyzed in terms of their catalytic rate constant and their affinity for the substrate. The specificity constant allows comparison of different enzymes and substrates. Some enzymes use cofactors or prosthetic groups. Some can be allosterically regulated.