Practice question · Match the pairs
Match each level of protein structure to what holds it together.
- Primary structure
- Secondary structure
- Tertiary structure
- Quaternary structure
- Side-chain interactions folding the whole chain
- Hydrogen bonds forming helices and sheets
- Association of several separate chains
- Peptide bonds in a fixed sequence
Hints
- Each level is held by a different kind of interaction.
- Only the first level involves covalent bonds along the backbone.
Show the answer
- Primary structure → Peptide bonds in a fixed sequence
- Secondary structure → Hydrogen bonds forming helices and sheets
- Tertiary structure → Side-chain interactions folding the whole chain
- Quaternary structure → Association of several separate chains
Why
Only the primary level is covalent along the backbone; the higher levels are held by weaker interactions, which is exactly why heat or pH can destroy the fold while leaving the sequence intact.
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