Which of the three different representations of protein structure is most useful for observing the path of the protein chain from one amino acid to the next?

Question

Three models of a protein structure. The first (from left to right) structure is a space-filling model. Here, each atom is represented by a ball of specific color. The second structure is a ribbon model. Here, the sequence looks like a ribbon twisted or coiled to match the shape of the protein. The third structure is a backbone model. Here, the sequence is represented as a thread.

spacefill
ribbon
backbone

Answer 1

The backbone model is the most useful for observing the path of the protein chain from one amino acid to the next. This model focuses on the main chain of the protein and simplifies the structure by highlighting the sequence of amino acids, making it easier to visualize how the protein chain connects from one residue to another. The ribbon model also helps to see the path of the protein, but the backbone model provides a clearer view of the specific connections between amino acids without the added detail of secondary structure features. The space-filling model, while visually appealing, does not clearly indicate the connectivity and sequence of the amino acids.