Alpha helix | Protein Structure

WHAT ARE PROTEINS? Proteins are large molecules found in our bodies and food, consisting of many smaller components called amino acids. Proteins have the properties they do because of the shape and arrangement of their amino acids. A weak bond, known as a hydrogen bond, forms between a hydrogen atom and an oxygen atom in the amino acids. This gives the protein its shape. What is denaturing and how does it happen? A protein becomes denatured when its normal shape gets deformed because some of the hydrogen bonds are broken. Weak hydrogen bonds break when too much heat is applied or when they are exposed to an acid (like citric acid from lemon juice). As proteins deform or unravel parts of structure that were hidden away get exposed and form bonds with other protein molecules, so they coagulate (stick together) and become insoluble in water. Curing salmon using lemon and lime juice (eg. to make a gravadlax or ceviche) is an example of protein acid denaturation. Questions: An α-helix is most likely to be held together by: A) Disulfide bonds B) Hydrophobic effects C) Hydrogen bonds D) Ionic attractions between side chains Which of these is most likely to be preserved when a protein is denatured? A) Primary structure B) Secondary structure C) Tertiary structure D) Quaternary structure #alphaHelix #aminoAcid #polypeptide #oligopeptide #HydrogenBond #helix #NikolaysGeneticsLessons #proline #saltBridges #ionicBridges #betasheets #irregularStructures #TheAlphaHelix #protein #ProteinFolding