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Multiple Choice
Which type of bond is primarily responsible for maintaining the primary structure of a protein?
A
Disulfide bond
B
Peptide bond
C
Ionic bond
D
Hydrogen bond
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the concept of protein structure: Proteins have four levels of structure—primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary. The primary structure refers to the linear sequence of amino acids in the polypeptide chain.
Identify the type of bond involved in the primary structure: The primary structure is maintained by covalent bonds between amino acids, specifically peptide bonds, which link the carboxyl group of one amino acid to the amino group of another.
Clarify what a peptide bond is: A peptide bond is a covalent bond formed through a dehydration reaction, where a molecule of water is removed as the carboxyl group (-COOH) of one amino acid reacts with the amino group (-NH2) of another amino acid.
Compare peptide bonds to other bond types: Disulfide bonds, ionic bonds, and hydrogen bonds are involved in higher levels of protein structure (secondary, tertiary, and quaternary) but do not play a role in maintaining the primary structure.
Conclude that peptide bonds are the correct answer: Peptide bonds are the primary type of bond responsible for maintaining the linear sequence of amino acids in the primary structure of a protein.