What are Protein Structures Like?
Once the protein chain has been made it must fold up properly before it can do its job. We think that all the information needed to tell it how to fold up properly is contained in the sequence of amino acids that make up the chain. Protein structures often contain long stretched out chains of amino acids called strands that line up together to make sheets. These are called beta strands and the sheets are called beta sheets. Proteins can also contain curled up spiral structures called alpha helices. A protein may contain either or both alpha helices and beta sheets. Alpha helices and beta sheets are joined by less clear structures often grouped together under the name of “coil”. Some small proteins may be made entirely of coil! It is the grouping of certain amino acids on the surface of proteins that allows them to do their jobs. Proper folding is very important as it brings these amino acids together in just the right pattern for them to work properly. Finding out the structure of prot
