Primary structure
Definition
The primary structure of a protein is the specific sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide chain, determined by covalent peptide bonds. It dictates the protein's overall shape and function.
Analogy
Imagine the primary structure of a protein as a specific arrangement of cars in a train; each car represents an amino acid, and their order determines the train's destination and capabilities, much like how the sequence of amino acids influences the protein's characteristics.
Related terms
Amino Acids: The building blocks of proteins, consisting of an amino group, carboxyl group, hydrogen atom, and distinctive side chain attached to a central carbon atom.
Peptide Bond: A covalent chemical bond formed between two amino acid molecules when the carboxyl group of one molecule reacts with the amino group of another molecule, releasing water (dehydration synthesis).
Protein Folding: The process by which a protein structure assumes its functional shape or conformation through interactions among its amino acids driven by the primary structure
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