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Multiple Choice
What are the two basic types of secondary structure in proteins?
A
Beta pleated sheet and random coil
B
Alpha helix and beta pleated sheet
C
Gamma turn and random coil
D
Alpha helix and gamma turn
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand that proteins have different levels of structure: primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary.
Recognize that secondary structure refers to the local folded structures that form within a polypeptide due to interactions between atoms of the backbone.
Identify the two most common types of secondary structures in proteins: the alpha helix and the beta pleated sheet.
The alpha helix is a right-handed coil where each amino acid corresponds to a 100-degree turn in the helix, and is stabilized by hydrogen bonds between the backbone atoms.
The beta pleated sheet consists of beta strands connected laterally by at least two or three backbone hydrogen bonds, forming a sheet-like structure.