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In the 1950s, scientist John Kendrew determined the structure of myoglobin - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 1 - 2022 - Paper 1
Question 1
In the 1950s, scientist John Kendrew determined the structure of myoglobin. Myoglobin was found to be a single polypeptide chain with one heme group, as shown below.... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:In the 1950s, scientist John Kendrew determined the structure of myoglobin - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 1 - 2022 - Paper 1
Step 1
C. tertiary structure.
Answer
The protein structure depicted in the image is best described as myoglobin's tertiary structure.
Explanation of Tertiary Structure
Tertiary structure refers to the overall three-dimensional shape of a single polypeptide chain. In this case, myoglobin consists of one polypeptide that folds into a specific structure due to interactions between the amino acid side chains, including hydrogen bonds, ionic bonds, hydrophobic interactions, and disulfide bridges.
Importance of Tertiary Structure
The specific folding of myoglobin is critical for its function in binding oxygen effectively. The heme group, which is crucial for oxygen binding, is embedded within this three-dimensional structure, allowing myoglobin to perform its role in muscle tissue.