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Protein Folding

Protein Structure
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Levels of Protein Structure Primary Structure

• Primary Structure
• Order in which the amino acids are covalently linked

• Secondary Structure
• Arrangement in space of the atoms in the peptide backbone

Directionality
• Tertiary Structure From N-terminal to Carboxyl Terminal
• The three-dimensional structure arrangement of all the atoms in
the protein
-N-C-C-N-C-C-N-C-C-N-C-C-
• Quaternary Structure backbone
• Arrangement of multiple polypeptide units. 3 4

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Resonance Stability of the Geometric Isomerism of the

Peptide Bond Peptide Bond

• Has Double-Bond characteristics

• makes the peptide bond planar
• prevents rotation around the peptide bond
cis isomers have higher steric strain, thus, they are not favored
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Ramachandran Angles Secondary Structure

φ (phi) – angle of rotation • Arrangement in space of the atoms in the peptide backbone
of αC - N bond
• Stabilized by hydrogen bonding between N-H and C=O bonds
from the backbone
ϕ (psi) – angle of rotation
of αC – carbonyl C bond

• N-H – hydrogen bond donor

• C=O – hydrogen bond acceptor
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