SPECTRUM INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
CHEMISTRY INVESTIGATORY PROJECT
BIOMOLECULES (Proteins and Nucleic acids)
Submitted by- JIYA, XII ‘Y’
CBSE ROLL NUMBER-
2024- 2025
INDEX
S. No. Contents Page no.
1. Certificate 2.
2. Acknowledgement 3.
3. Aim /objective 4.
4. What are biomolecules? 5.
5. Importance of biomolecules 6.
6. Proteins 7.
7. Amino acids 8.
8. Structure of proteins 9.
9. Nucleic acids 12.
10. Conclusion and bibliography 15.
11. End of project 16.
1
CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that this Chemistry
investigatory project on biomolecules
(proteins and nucleic acids) is successfully
completed by JIYA of class- XII ‘Y’ under the
guidance of MR. LAKSHAY ARORA in particular
fulfilment of the curriculum of central board of
secondary education (CBSE) leading to the
award of annual examination of the year
2024- 2025.
Teacher in charge External
examiner
2
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I have taken efforts in this project. However, it would not
have been possible without the support of many individuals.
I would like to convey my heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Lakshay
Arora for his tremendous support and assistance in the
completion of my project.
I would also like to thank our Principal, Dr. Sangeeta Goyal,
for providing me with this wonderful opportunity to work on a
project with the topic Biomolecules.
The completion of the project would not have been possible
without their help and insights. I am also grateful to my peers
and friends for their encouragement and constructive
suggestions. Additionally, I appreciate my family for their
patience and unwavering support during the project. Your
contributions and support have been important to the
success of this work.
3
AIM
“To study the structure,
functions and importance of
biomolecules such as proteins
and nucleic acids.”
4
WHAT ARE BIOMOLECULES?
● A living system grows, sustains and reproduces itself. The most
amazing thing about a living system is that it is composed of nonliving
atoms and molecules.
● The pursuit of knowledge of what goes on chemically within a living
system falls in the domain of biochemistry. Living systems are made
up of various complex molecules like carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic
acids, lipids, etc.
● Proteins and carbohydrates are essential constituents of our food.
These biomolecules interact with each other and constitute the
molecular logic of life processes.
● In addition, some simple molecules like vitamins and mineral salts also
play an important role in the functions of organisms.
IMPORTANCE OF BIOMOLECULES
5
In chemistry, biomolecules are of immense importance due to their
complex structure, diverse functions, and the role they play in various
chemical processes.
1. Energy Source
2. Acts as biochemical catalysts
3. Molecular Structure and Function
4. Polymerization and Macromolecules
5. Thermodynamics and Bioenergetics
6. Detecting and quantifying molecules in biological samples.
7. Environmental Chemistry
PROTEINS
6
Proteins are the most abundant biomolecules of the living system. They
occur in every part of the body and form the fundamental basis of structure
and functions of life.
They are also required for growth and maintenance of the body. The word
protein is derived from the Greek word, “proteios” which means primary or
of prime importance. All proteins are polymers of α-amino acids.
AMINO ACIDS
7
Amino acids contain amino (–NH2 ) and carboxyl (–COOH) functional groups.
Only a-amino acids are obtained on hydrolysis of proteins. These are water-
soluble, high melting solids and behave like salts rather than simple amines
or carboxylic acids. This behaviour is due to the presence of both acidic
(carboxyl group) and basic (amino group) groups in the same molecule. In
aqueous solution, the carboxyl group can lose a proton and amino group can
accept a proton, giving rise to a dipolar ion known as zwitterion. This is
neutral but contains both positive and negative charges
CLASSIFICATION OF AMINO ACIDS-
Amino acids are classified as acidic, basic or neutral depending upon the
relative number of amino and carboxyl groups in their molecule
❖ Equal number of amino and carboxyl groups makes it neutral;
❖ more number of amino than carboxyl groups makes it basic
❖ more carboxyl groups as compared to amino groups makes it acidic.
STRUCTURE OF PROTEINS
8
Proteins are the polymers of a-amino acids and they are connected to each
other by peptide bond or peptide linkage. Chemically, peptide linkage is an
amide formed between –COOH group and –NH2 group.
Proteins can be classified into two types on the basis of their molecular
shape.
(a) Fibrous proteins- When the polypeptide chains run parallel and are held
together by hydrogen and disulphide bonds, then fibre– like structure is
formed. Such proteins are generally insoluble in water. Some common
examples are keratin (present in hair, wool, silk) and myosin (present in
muscles), etc.
(b) Globular proteins- This structure results when the chains of polypeptides
coil around to give a spherical shape. These are usually soluble in water.
Insulin and albumins are the common examples of globular proteins.
Structure and shape of proteins can be studied at four different levels, i.e.,
primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary, each level being more complex
than the previous one.
A. Primary structure of proteins: Proteins may have one or more
polypeptide chains. Each polypeptide in a protein has amino acids
linked with each other in a specific sequence and it is this sequence of
amino acids that is said to be the primary structure of that protein. Any
change in this primary structure i.e., the sequence of amino acids
creates a different protein.
B. Secondary structure of proteins: The secondary structure of protein
9
refers to the shape in which a long polypeptide chain can exist. They
are found to exist in two different types of structures viz. a-helix and b-
pleated sheet structure.
a. a-Helix is one of the most common ways in which a polypeptide
chain forms all possible hydrogen bonds by twisting into a right
handed screw (helix) with the –NH group of each amino acid
residue hydrogen bonded to the C O of an adjacent turn of the
helix.
b. In b-pleated sheet structure all peptide chains are stretched out
to nearly maximum extension and then laid side by side which
are held together by intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The
structure resembles the pleated folds of drapery and therefore is
known as b-pleated sheet.
C. Tertiary structure of proteins: The tertiary structure of proteins
represents overall folding of the polypeptide chains i.e., further folding of the
secondary structure. It gives rise to two major molecular shapes viz. fibrous
and globular. The main forces which stabilize the 2° and 3° structures of
proteins are hydrogen bonds, disulphide linkages, van der Waals and
10
electrostatic forces of attraction.
D. Quaternary structure of proteins: Some of the proteins are composed of
two or more polypeptide chains referred to as sub-units. The spatial
arrangement of these subunits with respect to each other is known as
quaternary structure.
During denaturation secondary and tertiary structures are destroyed but
primary structure remains intact. The coagulation of egg white on boiling is
a common example of denaturation. Another example is curdling of milk
which is caused due to the formation of lactic acid by the bacteria present
in milk.
NUCLEIC ACIDS
11
The particles in the nucleus of the cell, responsible for heredity, are called
chromosomes which are made up of proteins and another type of
biomolecules called nucleic acids. These are mainly of two types, the
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA).
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF NUCLEIC ACIDS-
Complete hydrolysis of DNA (or RNA) yields a pentose sugar, phosphoric acid
and nitrogen containing heterocyclic compounds (called bases). In DNA
molecules, the sugar moiety is b-D-2-deoxyribose whereas in RNA molecules,
it is b-D-ribose.
DNA contains four bases viz. adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C) and
thymine (T). RNA also contains four bases, the first three bases are the same
as in DNA but the fourth one is uracil (U).
STRUCTURE OF NUCLEIC ACIDS-
12
A unit formed by the attachment of a base to 1C position of sugar is known
as nucleoside.
When nucleoside is linked to phosphoric acid at 5C-position of sugar moiety,
we get a nucleotide
13
CONCLUSION AND BIBLIOGRAPHY
Biomolecules are central to the study of chemistry because they are organic
compounds with unique structures and functions that govern life processes.
Their study offers deep insights into chemical reactivity, molecular
interactions, and reaction mechanisms. Moreover, biomolecules are essential
in pharmaceutical chemistry, biotechnology, and green chemistry, and they
provide the basis for designing new drugs, developing biotechnological
innovations, and understanding the chemistry of life itself.
NCERT Class 12 Lab Manual
[Link] [Link]
[Link]
14
[Link]
[Link] [Link]
Class 12 NCERT Textbook Reference articles from various biogs.
END OF
PROJECT!!!
15
16
