Question

Unstructured proteins A. are those proteins that have been denarured by heat. B. do not have any biological functions. C. can be induced to have a defined structure by binding to other proteins or to DNA or RNA. D. have no secondary or tertiary structure. E. have regions that are very rich in aromatic amino acids.

Short answer

Answer: Unstructured proteins can sometimes acquire a specific structure when they interact with other biomolecules.

Step-by-step solution

Understand Unstructured Proteins

To answer the question, we have to understand what unstructured proteins are. Unstructured proteins are proteins that do not have a well-defined, rigid three-dimensional structure, including secondary and tertiary structures. They are also known as intrinsically disordered proteins. These proteins can sometimes acquire a specific structure when they interact with other biomolecules, and they are known to have certain biological functions.

Analyze Each Option

Let's evaluate each option in the question to determine the most accurate definition of unstructured proteins: A. Unstructured proteins are not necessarily denatured by heat. Denatured proteins are proteins that have lost their native structures due to any kind of disruption, such as heat, pH, or chemical agents. B. This statement is incorrect. Unstructured proteins do have biological functions. They are often involved in signaling pathways and protein-protein interactions. C. This statement is correct. Unstructured proteins can sometimes acquire a specific structure when they interact with other biomolecules such as proteins, DNA, or RNA. D. Unstructured proteins do not have a well-defined, rigid three-dimensional structure, but they can still have some local secondary structures. This statement is partially true, as it says that unstructured proteins have no secondary or tertiary structure. Unstructured proteins can have local secondary structures (such as alpha-helixes and beta-sheets), but they generally lack a well-defined tertiary structure. E. Unstructured proteins do not necessarily have regions that are very rich in aromatic amino acids. This description does not define unstructured proteins accurately.

Choose the Correct Answer

Based on our analysis of each given statement, option C is the most accurate definition of unstructured proteins. Unstructured proteins can be induced to have a defined structure by binding to other proteins or to DNA or RNA.