Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video
Multiple Choice
Which of the following is true about the amino acids that make up a transmembrane protein?
A
Amino acids in the transmembrane region are predominantly nonpolar to interact with the lipid bilayer.
B
Transmembrane proteins are composed exclusively of polar amino acids.
C
Only charged amino acids are found in the membrane-spanning regions.
D
Amino acids in transmembrane regions are mostly aromatic to facilitate hydrogen bonding.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the structure of a transmembrane protein: Transmembrane proteins span the lipid bilayer of a cell membrane. The lipid bilayer is composed of hydrophobic (nonpolar) fatty acid tails in its interior and hydrophilic (polar) head groups on its exterior.
Recall the properties of amino acids: Amino acids can be classified as polar, nonpolar, charged, or aromatic based on the properties of their side chains. Nonpolar amino acids are hydrophobic, while polar and charged amino acids are hydrophilic.
Analyze the environment of the transmembrane region: The interior of the lipid bilayer is hydrophobic, so the amino acids in the transmembrane region must also be hydrophobic (nonpolar) to interact favorably with the lipid bilayer.
Evaluate the given options: The correct statement is that amino acids in the transmembrane region are predominantly nonpolar to interact with the lipid bilayer. The other options are incorrect because transmembrane proteins are not composed exclusively of polar amino acids, charged amino acids are not predominant in the membrane-spanning regions, and aromatic amino acids are not primarily responsible for hydrogen bonding in this context.
Conclude the reasoning: The correct answer is based on the principle of hydrophobic interactions, which dictate that nonpolar amino acids are most suitable for the hydrophobic environment of the lipid bilayer.