key term - β-Pleated sheet

Definition

A β-pleated sheet is a type of secondary structure found in proteins, characterized by rows of amino acids folded into a zigzag pattern that are then aligned side by side and held together by hydrogen bonds. This structure lends stability and rigidity to the overall protein shape.

Related terms

Secondary Structure:

The level of protein structure characterized by local folding into shapes such as α-helixes and β-pleated sheets due to hydrogen bonding between backbone atoms.

Hydrogen Bond:

A weak bond between two molecules resulting from an electrostatic attraction between a proton in one molecule and an electronegative atom in the other, crucial for maintaining the structure of a β-pleated sheet.

Amino Acids:

The building blocks of proteins, consisting of a central carbon atom attached to an amino group, a carboxyl group, a hydrogen atom, and a variable R group