How does the order of amino acids in a protein chain affect the structure of the whole protein?
The sequence of amino acids in a protein chain causes the chain to fold into secondary structures and then into a unique tertiary structure. This process is driven by the laws of thermodynamics in which the protein chain folds so that the whole structure has minimum free energy. The actual folding depends on the chemical structure of the side chains and and their chemical interaction with those in close proximity and with the biological environment.
