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Neonatal diabetes is a disease that affects newly born children - AQA - A-Level Biology - Question 5 - 2021 - Paper 2
Question 5
Neonatal diabetes is a disease that affects newly born children. The disease is caused by a change in the amino acid sequence of insulin. This change prevents insul... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Neonatal diabetes is a disease that affects newly born children - AQA - A-Level Biology - Question 5 - 2021 - Paper 2
Step 1
Explain why this change prevents insulin binding to its receptor
Answer
The change in the amino acid sequence of insulin alters its tertiary structure. This structural alteration means that the insulin molecule is no longer complementary to the insulin receptor's binding site. As a result, the specific interactions necessary for binding — such as hydrogen bonds and ionic interactions — cannot occur, preventing insulin from effectively attaching to its receptor.