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Multiple Choice
Polymers of amino acids form a polypeptide. What is the final three-dimensional shape of a polypeptide called?
A
Secondary structure
B
Quaternary structure
C
Primary structure
D
Tertiary structure
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand that amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, and when they link together, they form a polypeptide chain.
Recognize that the primary structure of a protein is the linear sequence of amino acids in the polypeptide chain.
Learn that the secondary structure refers to local folded structures that form within a polypeptide due to interactions between atoms in the backbone. Common examples include alpha helices and beta sheets.
Identify that the tertiary structure is the overall three-dimensional shape of a single polypeptide chain, formed by interactions between the side chains (R groups) of the amino acids.
Note that the quaternary structure involves the assembly of multiple polypeptide chains into a functional protein complex, but it is not the final shape of a single polypeptide.