The three-dimensional spatial configuration of a single polypeptide chain as determined by disulfide linkages, hydrogen bonds, electrostatic attractions, and van der Waals forces is referred to as the

The three-dimensional spatial configuration of a single polypeptide chain as determined by disulfide linkages, hydrogen bonds, electrostatic attractions, and van der Waals forces is referred to as the

• A. Tertiary structure
• B. Primary structure
• C. Secondary structure
• D. Quaternary structure

Answer: (A)

Tertiary structure refers to the overall three-dimensional shape of a single polypeptide chain, formed by the folding driven by interactions among its side chains. These include covalent disulfide bonds that can lock distant segments together, hydrogen bonds, electrostatic attractions between charged groups, and favorable van der Waals packing. Collectively, these intramolecular forces produce a compact, functional conformation that determines how the protein behaves in space. Primary structure is just the linear amino acid sequence, while secondary structure describes local motifs like alpha helices and beta sheets stabilized mainly by backbone hydrogen bonding in short regions. Quaternary structure, on the other hand, describes how multiple polypeptide chains come together to form a multisubunit complex. Because the question specifies the spatial arrangement of a single chain, the correct term is the tertiary structure.

Tertiary structure refers to the overall three-dimensional shape of a single polypeptide chain, formed by the folding driven by interactions among its side chains. These include covalent disulfide bonds that can lock distant segments together, hydrogen bonds, electrostatic attractions between charged groups, and favorable van der Waals packing. Collectively, these intramolecular forces produce a compact, functional conformation that determines how the protein behaves in space.

Primary structure is just the linear amino acid sequence, while secondary structure describes local motifs like alpha helices and beta sheets stabilized mainly by backbone hydrogen bonding in short regions. Quaternary structure, on the other hand, describes how multiple polypeptide chains come together to form a multisubunit complex. Because the question specifies the spatial arrangement of a single chain, the correct term is the tertiary structure.