Local folded structures that emerge within a polypeptide due to interactions between backbone atoms are referred to as secondary structure of protein. The amino acid sequence within the polypeptide chain is critical for the proper functioning of the protein, as you might imagine. The basic protein structure is depicted in the diagram below (an amino acid chain). Any alteration in the sequence has an impact on the whole protein. The amino acids in these chains are organised in a specific sequence that is unique to each protein. A significant number of polypeptide chains make up proteins. The precise sequencing of proteins is critical since it dictates the protein’s ultimate fold and thus its function. Proteins’ primary structure is the specific ordering of amino acids that make up their chains. Proteins are macromolecules with four structural levels: primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary. Protein architectures can be tens to thousands of amino acids long. It is frequently important to establish the three-dimensional structure of proteins in order to comprehend their molecular functions. A chain of less than 30 amino acids is commonly referred to as a peptide rather than a protein. Non-covalent interactions such as hydrogen bonding, ionic interactions, Van der Waals forces, and hydrophobic packing cause proteins to fold into one or more precise spatial conformations in order to fulfil their biological function. Proteins are made up of amino acids that undergo condensation processes, in which each amino acid loses one water molecule in order to form a peptide bond. Finally, a protein’s quaternary structure refers to macromolecules that contain several polypeptide chains or subunits.

The tertiary structure of a protein is the collection of forms and folds found in a single linear chain of amino acids, also known as a polypeptide. In addition to helices and sheets, most proteins have other less prevalent configurations.

These stable folding patterns, called alpha helices and beta sheets, help compensate for a protein’s secondary structure.

Download secondary structure of protein