Answers: Nucleic Acids and Proteins

Q8. Explain how proteins fold to form a specific tertiary structure
  • The tertiary structure of a protein is its three-dimension shape. It is determined by the protein’s primary structure (amino acid sequence) and secondary structures (alpha helix and beta pleated sheets).
  • Some interactions between amino acids that help to determine tertiary shape include disulphide bonds, hydrogen bonds, ionic bonds, and the hydrophobic or hydrophilic nature of the amino acid side-chains