three-dimensional structure
jhalper | November 13, 2011Proteins are strung together from amino acids attached in long chains, one after the other. But for most proteins, this is just the beginning - next they must fold. "Folding" is the general term for the way that a protein strand twists, coils, winds, pleats and creases into an intricate three-dimensional structure. Only then can it go to work.
The sequence of amino acids is what determines the final shape of the protein: Molecules assembled on the same plan will end up in the exact same configuration. The funny thing is, they don't all go through the same set of steps to arrive at their…