Biological Chemistry - Berezov T. T., Korovkin B. F. 1998

Protein Chemistry
Physicochemical Properties of Proteins
Shape of Protein Molecules

Previously, the Size and Shape of Protein Molecules were assessed based on ultracentrifugation, double refraction, and diffusion data. These findings indicated the existence of globular (spherical) and fibrillar (thread-like) Proteins in nature. Currently, these General Concepts regarding the shape of protein molecules have been largely confirmed; however, only modern Research Methods have made it possible to establish the details of their spatial configuration (three-dimensional Structure). Thanks to the application of scanning Cell/15.html">Microscopy and X-Ray Diffraction Analysis (with a high resolution of about 0.2–0.3 nm), it has been possible to decode in detail not only the complete Spatial Structure and shape, but also the degree of Asymmetry of protein molecules across all three dimensions. It turned out that even Blood Globular proteins (Hemoglobin, albumins, and globulins) are asymmetric in these dimensions. It should be noted that the physicochemical as well as the biological Properties of Proteins (whether in a free state or bound to each other or to other Biopolymers) are determined by their spatial structure.



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