The tertiary structure of proteins may be maintained by
A - VCE - SSCE Chemistry - Question 15 - 2009 - Paper 1
Question 15
The tertiary structure of proteins may be maintained by
A. hydrogen bonding.
B. ionic interactions.
C. covalent bonds.
D. all of the above.
Worked Solution & Example Answer:The tertiary structure of proteins may be maintained by
A - VCE - SSCE Chemistry - Question 15 - 2009 - Paper 1
Step 1
A. hydrogen bonding.
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Answer
Hydrogen bonds are weak interactions that play a crucial role in stabilizing the tertiary structure of proteins. They form between the partial positive and negative charges of different amino acid side chains.
Step 2
B. ionic interactions.
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Answer
Ionic interactions occur between positively and negatively charged side chains of amino acids. These interactions contribute to the overall stability and specific folding of the protein.
Step 3
C. covalent bonds.
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Answer
Covalent bonds, particularly disulfide bridges formed between cysteine residues, are strong and provide additional stability to the protein's tertiary structure.
Step 4
D. all of the above.
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Answer
All of these interactions—hydrogen bonds, ionic interactions, and covalent bonds—contribute to maintaining the tertiary structure of proteins, thus the correct answer is D.
