Question

Which force or bonding can contribute to a protein’s tertiary structure?

hydrogen bonding

van der waals

ionic bonding

all of these are correct

covalent bonding

Answers

GPT-4o mini
All of these are correct. The tertiary structure of a protein is stabilized by various types of interactions, including:

- **Hydrogen bonding**: Weak attractions between polar side chains or between polar side chains and the backbone.
- **Van der Waals forces**: Weak attractions that occur between nonpolar side chains when they are in close proximity.
- **Ionic bonding**: Electrostatic attractions between positively and negatively charged side chains.
- **Covalent bonding**: Disulfide bridges can form between cysteine residues, providing strong covalent links that stabilize the structure.

Therefore, all of these forces and bonding types contribute to a protein's tertiary structure.
pick one
GPT-4o mini
If I have to choose one, I would say **hydrogen bonding** is the most significant contributor to a protein's tertiary structure. It plays a crucial role in stabilizing the various folding configurations of the protein. However, it's important to note that all the interactions contribute collectively to the overall structure.