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Multiple Choice
Which structural level of a protein would be least affected by a disruption in hydrogen bonding?
A
Quaternary structure
B
Tertiary structure
C
Secondary structure
D
Primary structure
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the structural levels of proteins: Proteins have four levels of structure - primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary.
Define primary structure: The primary structure of a protein is the sequence of amino acids linked by peptide bonds. It is the most basic level of protein structure.
Identify the role of hydrogen bonds: Hydrogen bonds play a crucial role in stabilizing the secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures of proteins, but not the primary structure.
Analyze the impact of hydrogen bond disruption: Disruption in hydrogen bonding would primarily affect the secondary structure (such as alpha helices and beta sheets), tertiary structure (overall 3D shape), and quaternary structure (interaction between multiple polypeptide chains).
Conclude which structure is least affected: Since the primary structure is determined by covalent peptide bonds and not hydrogen bonds, it would be least affected by a disruption in hydrogen bonding.