High School Biology : Understanding Protein Folding
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Example Questions
Example Question #11 : Understanding Protein Folding
Which of the following types of amino acids would most likely be found in the center of eukaryotic globular proteins?
Polar amino acids
None of these
Hydrophilic amino acids
All of these
Hydrophobic amino acids
Hydrophobic amino acids
Water is known as the “universal solvent.” Life could not exist on earth without water. Our bodies are mostly water; therefore, the environment of our cells is aqueous as well. Hydrophobic (“water fearing") amino acids would condense to "hide" from an aqueous environment. Polar and/or hydrophilic (“water loving”) amino acids would be found on the exterior of globular proteins near the aqueous environment. Hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity are major forces that drive the formation of the tertiary or three-dimensional shape of a protein post translation.
Example Question #12 : Understanding Protein Folding
In protein folding, secondary structures refer to which of the following?
Beta sheets only
Both alpha helices and beta sheets
The linear sequence of amino acids
Alpha helices only
Interactions between two or more polypeptide chains
Both alpha helices and beta sheets
Primary structure of protein is the sequence of amino acids. Secondary structure is formed by hydrogen bonds between the peptide backbone which forms either alpha helices or beta sheets. Tertiary structure is dependent on side chains and the environment in which the protein is. Quaternary structure is conferred once bonds between two or more polypeptide chains are formed.
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