What is protein structure?
Q: What is protein structure?
A: Protein structure refers to how protein molecules are organized and the shape they assume, which influences their function.
Q: Why are proteins important in biology?
A: Proteins are vital biological macromolecules found in all living organisms. They perform a wide range of biological functions, such as building and repairing tissues, transporting molecules, and regulating cellular processes.
Q: How are proteins formed?
A: Proteins are made up of 20 different amino acid polymers, which are created through RNA translation.
Q: What determines a protein's shape?
A: Proteins fold into specific shapes through weaker forces such as hydrogen bonds, rather than chemical bonds.
Q: How can biophysics be used to study protein structure?
A: Biophysics employs various techniques such as X-ray crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, and dual polarisation interferometry to understand the three-dimensional structure of proteins.
Q: How do proteins switch from one shape to another?
A: Proteins may switch between different shapes or conformations as they perform their functions in the body.
Q: What are conformations in relation to proteins?
A: Conformations refer to the different shapes or alternative states that the same protein can assume. For example, an enzyme may have two conformations: one with its co-enzyme and one without.
