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Words: | Submitted: Tue Oct 17 2006
... 2 parts to it. The primary structures polypeptide chain can do two things; 1) it can twist round to form an Alpha- Helix, this looks like a spiral. In this helix Hydrogen bonds form between the C=O of the carboxylic acid and the -NH of the amine group of different amino acids, this stabilises the shape in its form. Many chains may join together with hydrogen bonds holding the parallel chains together; this is known as a Beta-Pleated sheet. Inside 1 molecule there could be sections with Alpha-Helices and other sections that include Beta-Pleated sheets. The Beta-Pleated sheets attract water and means they are polar, this means when they have the chance they will form hydrogen bonds with surrounding water. They are also charged, 'an example of an Amino Acid with these characteristics is Glutamate.' (http://www.rpi.edu/dept/bcbp/molbiochem/MBWeb/mb1/part2/protein.htm, 12th Oct). Alpha-Helix amino acids are the opposite of Beta-Pleated ones, Alpha-Helices are water repelling ...
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