Q. 16.17 - An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry

Question

What happens when a primary structure forms a secondary structure?

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

Ans:

When a protein takes on secondary structure, hydrogen bonds connect the carbonyl oxygen atoms of one peptide linkage and the hydrogen atoms of the amino group of another peptide linkage. As a result, alpha helices or beta pleated sheets are formed.

Step 1: Introduction

The amino acid sequence of a protein is referred to as its primary structure. The primary structure of the protein is critical to its unique three-dimensional structure, mechanism of action, and relationship to other proteins with similar physiological roles.

Step 2:Primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structure.

All proteins have multiple structural levels known as "primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structure." A protein's "primary structure" is its sequence of amino acids. When portions of an amino acid chain take on a specific spatial orientation, such as an alpha helix or beta pleated sheet, the "secondary structure" occurs.

Step 3: When a protein takes on a secondary structure,

When a protein takes on secondary structure, hydrogen bonds connect the carbonyl oxygen atoms of one peptide linkage and the hydrogen atoms of the amino group of another peptide linkage. As a result, alpha helices or beta pleated sheets are formed.