Table of contents

1. Matter and Measurements4h 31m
2. Atoms and the Periodic Table5h 23m
3. Ionic Compounds2h 18m
4. Molecular Compounds2h 18m
5. Classification & Balancing of Chemical Reactions3h 17m
6. Chemical Reactions & Quantities2h 27m
7. Energy, Rate and Equilibrium3h 46m
8. Gases, Liquids and Solids3h 25m
9. Solutions4h 10m
10. Acids and Bases3h 29m
11. Nuclear Chemistry56m
BONUS: Lab Techniques and Procedures1h 38m
BONUS: Mathematical Operations and Functions47m
12. Introduction to Organic Chemistry1h 34m
13. Alkenes, Alkynes, and Aromatic Compounds2h 12m
14. Compounds with Oxygen or Sulfur1h 6m
15. Aldehydes and Ketones1h 1m
16. Carboxylic Acids and Their Derivatives1h 11m
17. Amines39m
18. Amino Acids and Proteins1h 51m
19. Enzymes1h 37m
20. Carbohydrates1h 41m
21. The Generation of Biochemical Energy2h 8m
22. Carbohydrate Metabolism2h 22m
23. Lipids2h 26m
24. Lipid Metabolism1h 45m
25. Protein and Amino Acid Metabolism1h 37m
26. Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis2h 54m

18. Amino Acids and Proteins

Tertiary Protein Structure

GOB Chemistry

18. Amino Acids and Proteins

Tertiary Protein Structure

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3:51 minutes

Problem 26b

Textbook Question

What type of interaction would you expect between the side chains of each of the following pairs of amino acids in the tertiary structure of a protein?
b. alanine and valine

Verified step by step guidance

Identify the side chains of alanine and valine. Alanine has a methyl group (-CH3) as its side chain, while valine has an isopropyl group (-CH(CH3)2) as its side chain.

Recognize that both alanine and valine have nonpolar, hydrophobic side chains.

Understand that in the tertiary structure of a protein, nonpolar side chains tend to interact with each other through hydrophobic interactions.

Explain that these hydrophobic interactions help stabilize the protein structure by minimizing the exposure of nonpolar side chains to the aqueous environment.

Conclude that the interaction between the side chains of alanine and valine in the tertiary structure of a protein is primarily hydrophobic.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Amino Acid Side Chains

Amino acids have unique side chains (R groups) that determine their chemical properties and interactions. The side chains can be polar, nonpolar, acidic, or basic, influencing how they interact with each other in a protein's tertiary structure. Understanding these properties is crucial for predicting interactions between specific amino acids.

Hydrophobic Interactions

Hydrophobic interactions occur when nonpolar side chains, such as those of alanine and valine, cluster together to avoid contact with water. This phenomenon is a key driving force in protein folding, as it helps stabilize the protein's three-dimensional structure by minimizing the exposure of hydrophobic regions to the aqueous environment.

Tertiary Structure of Proteins

The tertiary structure of a protein refers to its overall three-dimensional shape, formed by the folding and interactions of its amino acid side chains. This structure is critical for the protein's function, as it determines how the protein interacts with other molecules. The specific interactions between side chains, such as those between alanine and valine, play a significant role in stabilizing this structure.

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Textbook Question

What type of interaction would you expect between the R groups of the following amino acids in a tertiary structure?

c. serine and aspartate

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Textbook Question

In myoglobin, about one-half of the 153 amino acids have nonpolar R groups.

a. Where would you expect those amino acids to be located in the tertiary structure?

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Textbook Question

In myoglobin, about one-half of the 153 amino acids have nonpolar R groups.

b. Where would you expect the polar R groups to be in the tertiary structure?

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Textbook Question

When a protein folds into its tertiary structure, does the primary structure change? Explain.

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Textbook Question

What type of interaction would you expect between the side chains of each of the following pairs of amino acids in the tertiary structure of a protein?

a. lysine and glutamate

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Textbook Question

What type of interaction would you expect between the side chains of each of the following pairs of amino acids in the tertiary structure of a protein?

b. leucine and isoleucine

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Textbook Question

What type of interaction would you expect between the side chains of each of the following pairs of amino acids in the tertiary structure of a protein?

d. glutamine and arginine

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Textbook Question

Myoglobin is a protein containing 153 amino acids. Approximately half of the amino acids in myoglobin have polar side chains.

a. Where would you expect these amino acid side chains to be located in the tertiary structure of the protein?

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What type of interaction would you expect between the side chains of each of the following pairs of amino acids in the tertiary structure of a protein?b. alanine and valine

Key Concepts

Amino Acid Side Chains

Hydrophobic Interactions

Tertiary Structure of Proteins

Watch next

What type of interaction would you expect between the side chains of each of the following pairs of amino acids in the tertiary structure of a protein?
b. alanine and valine