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Multiple Choice
The tertiary structure of a protein is not directly dependent on _____.
A
disulfide bridges
B
hydrogen bonds
C
peptide bonds
D
hydrophobic interactions
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the concept of protein structure. Proteins have four levels of structure: primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary. The tertiary structure refers to the three-dimensional folding of a protein, which is stabilized by various interactions between amino acid side chains.
Step 2: Review the types of interactions that stabilize tertiary structure. These include disulfide bridges (covalent bonds between cysteine residues), hydrogen bonds (between polar side chains), hydrophobic interactions (between nonpolar side chains), and ionic bonds (between charged side chains).
Step 3: Recognize the role of peptide bonds. Peptide bonds are covalent bonds that link amino acids together in the primary structure of a protein. While they are essential for forming the protein chain, they do not directly contribute to the folding and stabilization of the tertiary structure.
Step 4: Compare peptide bonds to the other interactions listed. Disulfide bridges, hydrogen bonds, and hydrophobic interactions are all directly involved in stabilizing the tertiary structure, whereas peptide bonds are part of the backbone and primarily influence the primary structure.
Step 5: Conclude that the tertiary structure of a protein is not directly dependent on peptide bonds, as they are involved in the primary structure rather than the folding and stabilization of the three-dimensional shape.