BRAINCAKEGlobular Proteins
Globular proteins are proteins whose polypeptide chains are folded into compact, roughly spherical shapes.
During folding, hydrophobic R groups turn towards the centre of the molecule, away from water, while hydrophilic R groups end up on the outside. Because the outside of the molecule is hydrophilic, globular proteins are soluble in water. This means they can be transported in the blood and can move freely in the cytoplasm.
Each globular protein has a precise tertiary (and sometimes quaternary) structure, so it has a very specific shape. This makes them well suited to metabolic roles, where the protein must recognise or bind a particular molecule:
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Key terms in this lesson
- active site
- The region of an enzyme, with a shape complementary to its substrate, where the substrate molecule binds and the reaction is catalysed.
More in Biological Molecules
- Amino-acids
- Hydrogen Bonding
- Disulfide Bridges
- Ionic Bonds
- Protein Structure
- Fibrous Proteins
- Collagen
- Conjugated Proteins
All 25 lessons in Biological Molecules · All Edexcel AS-level Biology topics