Building the Chain and The Four Levels of Protein Shape

Flashcards covering key vocabulary related to protein synthesis, peptide bonds, hydrolysis, and the four levels of protein structure.

Dehydration Synthesis

The process of joining amino acids together.

Peptide Bond

The glue (chemical bond) that holds amino acids together.

Polypeptide

The resulting long chain of amino acids.

Hydrolysis

The opposite of dehydration; it adds water to break bonds.

Primary Structure

The simple sequence (order) of the amino acids.

Secondary Structure

The level of protein shape where the chain starts folding into alpha helices.

Tertiary Structure

The level of protein shape where the entire chain folds into a complex 3D shape as chains interact.

Quaternary Structure

The level of protein shape where two or more chains join together.