Forces stabilizing tertiary structure(overall fold)

Question 1

What are hydrophobic interactions?

Answer 1

non-polar amino acid side chains cluster together inside protein, away from aqueous environment

Question 2

What is the driving force behind hydrophobic interactions?

Answer 2

entropy
- as hydrophobic residues aggregate, water is released from their structured arrangements around these residues, increasing entropy of system

Question 3

What are hydrogen bonds?

Answer 3

Bonds formed between polar side chains and contribute to protein’s stability
- Bonds can occur between side chains and backbone, or between side chains themselves

Question 4

What are ionic bonds(salt bridges)?

Answer 4

bonds that form between positive/basic and negative/acidic side chains

Question 5

What are disulfide bonds?

Answer 5

covalent bonds that form between sulfur atoms of 2 cysteine residues

Question 6

What are Van der Waals forces?

Answer 6

weak interactions occurring between all atoms in close proximity