Course book: Chapter 6 "The structure of proteins"

Question 1

What amino acid is not chiral?

Answer 1

Glycine. Side-group: H, helix breaker

Question 2

In which enantiomere does amino acid normally occur?

Answer 2

L (laevus, left hand)

Question 3

Which amino acid has an R-group which doesn’t participate in hydrogen-bonding and thus, acts like a hinge?

Answer 3

Proline.

Question 4

Define the following terms:
1. Primary structure
2. Secondary …
3. Tertiary …
4. Quarternary …

Answer 4

1. Primary structure: The sequence
2. Secondary structure: Local 2D conformations
3. Tertiary structure: 3D folding
4. Quarternary structure: protein domains interacting in 3D.