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Chemistry

How Hydrogen Bonding Dictates the Tertiary Structure of Proteins

Quick fact

Hydrogen bonds between side chains and the protein backbone are individually weak, yet together they act like a network of molecular 'snaps' that lock the protein into its unique 3D shape, with each protein having a specific pattern of donors and acceptors.

Why this is interesting

You know proteins are chains of amino acids, but how does a linear chain fold into a precise 3D shape that performs a specific job? The answer lies in the subtle power of hydrogen bonds.