2004 AIPMT BiomoleculesStructure of proteins Easy Question 3 of 3 in Structure of proteins

The helical structure of protein is stabilized by:-

A Hydrogen bonds
B Ether bonds
C Peptide bonds
D Dipeptide bonds

The answer is A.

Solution

The $\alpha$-helix is the secondary structure of a protein. The polypeptide chain coils into a right-handed spiral.
The helix is held in shape by intramolecular hydrogen bonds between the $C=O$ group of one amino acid residue and the $-NH$ group of the residue four places further along the chain ($C=O \cdots H-N$).
Peptide bonds join the amino acids in the primary structure; they make the chain but do not hold the helix in shape. Ether bonds are not present in proteins.
So the helical structure of a protein is stabilised by hydrogen bonds.

Concept Hydrogen bonding in alpha helix

Structure of proteins in past papers

3 questions from this chapter have appeared across 3 exam years.