Human Serum Albumin

[RossHeaton]

Im writting about the synthesis of human serum albumin for my biology assignment, but I am having trouble finding clear infomation on its structure. So my questions are:

 

How many polypeptide chains make up the HSA protein?

 

How are the polypeptide chains bonded together?

 

What are the domains and sub domains I keep reading about?

 

Thankyou in advance for any infomation.

Edited November 5, 2013 by RossHeaton

[imatfaal]

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Moderator Note

 

Hello Ross

Homework Help Rules A simple reminder to all: this is the "Homework Help" forum, not the "Homework Answers" forum. We will not do your work for you, only point you in the right direction. Posts that do give the answers may be removed

 

Give some idea of what you have done and tried so far.

 

[Esrevinu]

Protein domains are portions of the protein that are structurally stable by themselves.... that is, without the rest of the protein. They are conserved through evolution because they perform an important task.

 

Proteins can be one polypeptide chain (monomeric), two polypeptide chains (dimeric), etc.

 

A domain can be within a single peptide chain (subunit) or it can encompass more than one subunit, so do not confuse subunit with domain, since domain is based on preservation and function, and "stand alone" stability.

 

Different subunits can be associated through different interactions, such as electrostatic, hydrophobic, disulfide bridges, etc.