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

3 answers

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

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.