Question

Give examples of amino acids that could give rise to the interactions that maintain the tertiary structures of proteins.

Short answer

The examples are:

a) Arginine and aspartic acid

b) Serine and glutamine

c) Cysteine

d) Isoleucine and phenylalanine

e) Tyrosine and asparagine

Step-by-step solution

Basic introduction

A precondition for this question is that amino acids are in the chain because otherwise, all amino acids would have a charge because of amino and carboxyl groups. Furthermore, it depends on the solution pH as well, but we will assume that pH is neutral.

Examples of amino acids with interaction that maintain stability

a) Arginine and aspartic acid are amino acids that can form ionic interactions because they both have a charge in the neutral solution.

b) Serine and glutamine are examples of amino acids that can form hydrogen bonds. It is important that one of a pair has a group, and the other hasto receive hydrogen bonding.

c) Cysteine, because oxidation can form a covalent bond between two cysteines.

d) Isoleucine and phenylalanine can form London dispersion forces because they have hydrophobic side chains.

e) Tyrosine and asparagine can form dipole-dipole interactions.

Hence the examples are:

a) Arginine and aspartic acid

b) Serine and glutamine

c) Cysteine

d) Isoleucine and phenylalanine

e) Tyrosine and asparagine