Question

What types of interactions can occur between the side chains of the following amino acids that would help maintain the tertiary structure of a protein?

a. cysteine and cysteine

b. glutamine and serine

c. glutamic acid and lysine

d. proline and leucine

Short answer

The interactions that can occur between the side chains of the above-mentioned amino acids that would help maintain the tertiary structure of a protein is depicted below:

a. The interaction betweencysteine and cysteineforms a disulfide linkage which is covalent.

b.The interaction between glutamine and serine isknown as hydrogen bonding This need N-H or O-H bond in side chain.

c.The interaction between glutamic acid and lysine is Ionic.

d. The interaction between proline and leucine is london dispersion.

Step-by-step solution

Interaction for part (a)

Cysteine and cysteine actually form a link between the sulphur. So, it's a di sulfide linkage. So, when a bond forms between two nonmetals like sulfur, it's a covalent bond under a covalent interaction.

Interaction for part (b)

Glutamine and serene have N-H or O-H bonds in side chain. These are polar bonds which generally interacts under hydrogen bonding force.

Interaction for part (c)

Glutamic acid has CO₂H group and lysinehave NH₂ group on side chain The inter molecular force that forms then between the side chains is going to be the hydrogen bonding. When those actually interact together, they are able to bond and ionic interactions take place.

Interaction for part (d)

The interaction between proline and leucine is london dispersion force. These groups are non-polar, where the strongest force that can possible is London dispersion. If all of these are compared together, that would be the weakest of all forces present.