Navigation Links
Tertiary structure


In biochemistry, the tertiary structure of a protein is its overall shape. All protein molecules are simple unbranched chains of amino acids, but it is by coiling into a specific three-dimensional shape that they are able to perform their biological function. The tertiary structure that a protein assumes to carry out its physiological role inside a cell is known as the native state or sometimes the native conformation. A protein assumes tertiary structure by "folding". An important type of chemical bond involved in stabilizing the tertiary structure of many proteins is the disulfide bond.

One goal of bioinformatics is to predict the native conformation of a protein from its primary sequence. Conventionally, tertiary structures are deduced through crystallography or multidimensional NMR. The study of protein tertiary structure is known as structural biology.

See also: primary structure -- secondary structure -- quaternary structure -- structural biology

'"/>


(Date:5/17/2013)... An international team of scientists ... and cell movement inside a living frog embryo in ... new method to advance biological research and the search ... University and the Karlsruher Institut fr Technologie in Germany, ... U.S. Department of Energy,s Argonne National Laboratory, released the ...
(Date:5/16/2013)... fast food restaurant had a higher body mass index ... food, according to researchers at The University of Texas ... strong among those with a lower income. , ... Journal of Public Health indicates higher BMI associates ... among lower-income African-Americans, the density, or number, of fast ...
(Date:5/16/2013)... The endothelium, the cellular layer lining the body,s ... few hundred nanometers in thickness, this super-tenuous structure ... tissue compression to create a unique and highly ... partition tissues from the body,s circulatory system. , ... barrier must be physically breached to enable ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):New X-ray method shows how frog embryos could help thwart disease 2Body mass index of low income African-Americans linked to proximity of fast food restaurants 2Body mass index of low income African-Americans linked to proximity of fast food restaurants 3Endothelium, heal thyself 2Endothelium, heal thyself 3Endothelium, heal thyself 4
... 2008) -- A "chip" or array that can quickly detect ... chromosomal abnormalities proved an effective tool in prenatal diagnosis in ... said researchers in a report that appears in the current ... the report, a team led by Dr. Arthur Beaudet and ...
... Ohio Scientists have identified a relationship between two proteins ... and autism. The finding has led to speculation that existing ... basis for potential therapies to alleviate the symptoms of autism. ... made by the neurexin-1 gene, which is located in brain ...
... illegal in many countries as it can be contaminated ... milk, making it taste bitter and turn thick and ... that can grow at low temperatures, spoiling raw milk ... in the November issue of the International Journal ...
Cached Biology News:Microarray analysis improves prenatal diagnosis 2Microarray analysis improves prenatal diagnosis 3Researchers find link between nicotine addiction and autism 2Researchers find link between nicotine addiction and autism 3New bacteria discovered in raw milk 2New bacteria discovered in raw milk 3
Other biology definitionOther Tags