A histone protein (H4) in cows and peas differs by only 2 amino acids of 100. They bind with negatively charged phosphate groups in DNA, so they must be rich in the basic amino acids, lysine and arginine. Based on this, answer the following true or false: The amino acids in histone proteins cannot be replaced without disrupting the protein’s structure.

Answer 1

False. While the amino acids in histone proteins, particularly the basic ones like lysine and arginine, play important roles in binding to negatively charged DNA, it is possible for some amino acids to be replaced without completely disrupting the protein's structure. Proteins often have some degree of flexibility in their sequence due to the redundancy and variability of the genetic code. In certain cases, substitutions can be tolerated without significantly affecting the overall function or structure of the protein, especially if the replacements maintain a similar functional group or property. However, specific changes can impact the protein's function if they disrupt critical interactions or structural stability.