Determine Protein Structure
Proteins are the functional unit of gene that is present in all living cells. They are the class of biological macromolecules that are composed of amino acids. They are commonly referred as polymers of amino acids. Each polymer also known as polypeptide is composed of 20 different amino acids in different proportion and combination.
Different levels of protein structure are as follows
Primary structure
Primary structure of the protein is referred to the sequence of the protein i.e. the sequence of the amino acids present in the protein. Each amino acid in the protein is bound by a covalent bond called peptide bond which is made through the process known as protein synthesis or translation in living cell. Based on the free group at the ends the ends of the polypeptide or protein are referred to as the amino terminus (N-terminus) and carboxyl terminus (C-terminus). Through sequencing methods we can determine protein structure i.e. the primary protein structure.
Secondary structure
The secondary structure of the protein is defined as the pattern or arrangement of hydrogen bonds between the peptide groups of main chains. The two type of secondary structure found in proteins are the alpha helix structure and the beta strands. Some of the methods to determine protein structure i.e. the secondary structure are Chou-Fasman method, GOR method, Machine learning, etc.
Tertiary and quaternary structure
Tertiary structure: Tertiary structure is the three dimensional structure of the protein, where the alpha helix and beta strands fold to form a compact globule. The folding is held by the hydrophobic interaction and some tertiary structure specific interactions like, hydrogen bonds, slat bridges, disulphide bonds, etc. Some of the methods to determine protein structure i.e. the secondary structure are experimental methods like X-ray crystallography or NMR spectroscopy and prediction methods like homology modeling, Ab initio protein modeling, protein threading, etc.
Quaternary structure:
Quaternary structure is the assembly of several polypeptide chains or protein molecules. Quaternary structure is also stabilized by the disulfide bonds and non covalent interaction as in tertiary structure.
Different levels of protein structure are as follows
- Primary structure
- Secondary structure
- Tertiary structure
- Quaternary structure
Primary structure
Primary structure of the protein is referred to the sequence of the protein i.e. the sequence of the amino acids present in the protein. Each amino acid in the protein is bound by a covalent bond called peptide bond which is made through the process known as protein synthesis or translation in living cell. Based on the free group at the ends the ends of the polypeptide or protein are referred to as the amino terminus (N-terminus) and carboxyl terminus (C-terminus). Through sequencing methods we can determine protein structure i.e. the primary protein structure.
Secondary structure
The secondary structure of the protein is defined as the pattern or arrangement of hydrogen bonds between the peptide groups of main chains. The two type of secondary structure found in proteins are the alpha helix structure and the beta strands. Some of the methods to determine protein structure i.e. the secondary structure are Chou-Fasman method, GOR method, Machine learning, etc.
Tertiary and quaternary structure
Tertiary structure: Tertiary structure is the three dimensional structure of the protein, where the alpha helix and beta strands fold to form a compact globule. The folding is held by the hydrophobic interaction and some tertiary structure specific interactions like, hydrogen bonds, slat bridges, disulphide bonds, etc. Some of the methods to determine protein structure i.e. the secondary structure are experimental methods like X-ray crystallography or NMR spectroscopy and prediction methods like homology modeling, Ab initio protein modeling, protein threading, etc.
Quaternary structure:
Quaternary structure is the assembly of several polypeptide chains or protein molecules. Quaternary structure is also stabilized by the disulfide bonds and non covalent interaction as in tertiary structure.