protein structure Flashcards
1
Q
what holds a-helices in place?
A
hydrogen bonding between the C=O of one amino acid and the NH2 of another amino acid 4 residues away
2
Q
are a-helices left or right handed?
A
can be either (hypothetically) however, most are right handed
3
Q
why do peptides exhibit steric hindrance?
A
the partial double bond character of the peptide bond restricts movement
4
Q
what is a native protein?
A
a protein in its correct conformation, with the minimum level of free energy
5
Q
name 3 conditions which can cause disruption of a protein
A
- heat
- changes in pH
- presence of chaotrophic agents
6
Q
how do chaotrophic agents cause denaturation of proteins?
A
unravel tertiary structure by destabilising internal, non-covalent bonds between atoms
7
Q
why is ribonuclease useful for experimentation?
A
it can be denatured and renatured fully in vitro
