What type of interaction is directly responsible for the formation of secondary structure?
A) peptide bonds between adjacent amino acids
B) peptide bonds between nonadjacent amino acids
C) hydrogen bonds between sections of the polypeptide backbone
D) hydrogen bonds between side chains of amino acids

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The formation of secondary structure is directly responsible for hydrogen bonds between sections of the polypeptide backbone. Specifically, alpha-helices are stabilized by hydrogen bonds between the amino acid backbone carbonyl group and the amino acid backbone amide hydrogen group four residues down the chain, while beta-sheets are stabilized by hydrogen bonds between neighboring sections of the polypeptide backbone. Peptide bonds, which link adjacent amino acids, provide the backbone for the polypeptide chain but are not directly involved in the formation of secondary structure. Hydrogen bonds between side chains of amino acids, while important for tertiary and quaternary structure, are not directly responsible for the formation of secondary structure.

What Type of Interaction Is Directly Responsible for the Formation