Understanding Chemistry

 

AMINO ACIDS and OTHER BIOCHEMISTRY MENU

 

Amino acids

Background . . .

An introduction to amino acids including their physical properties.

Acid-base reactions of amino acids . . .

Amino acids as zwitterions and the influence of this on their reactions with acids and bases.


Proteins

The structure of proteins . . .

A brief introduction to protein structure including primary, secondary and tertiary structure.

Hydrolysis of proteins . . .

Hydrolysing proteins using hydrochloric acid.

Proteins as enzymes . . .

A simple introduction to how enzymes act as catalysts. The page assumes a knowledge of protein structure.

The effect of changing conditions on enzyme catalysis . . .

An explanation of the effect of substrate concentration, temperature and pH on enzymes. This page follows on from the "Proteins as enzymes" page.

Enzyme inhibitors . . .

A look at various ways in which enzymes can be prevented from catalysing their reactions. This also follows on from the "Proteins as enzymes" page.


DNA

These pages are designed to be read in sequence. Later pages will assume knowledge of what has gone before.

The structure of DNA . . .

The replication of DNA . . .

The transcription of DNA into messenger RNA . . .

The genetic code . . .

Protein synthesis . . .

DNA mutations . . .



Go to menu of other organic compounds . . .

Go to Main Menu . . .



© Jim Clark 2004 (major additions 2007)