Log out Go to App
Go to App

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 22: Problem 28

Proteins vary widely in structure, whereas nucleic acids have rather uniform structures. How do you account for this major difference?

Short Answer

Expert verified
The major difference is due to the variety in the building blocks of proteins (20 types of amino acids) vs nucleic acids (4 types of nucleotides). The diverse combination and folding of amino acids in proteins lead to varied structures. In contrast, nucleic acids, despite having different nucleotide sequences, maintain a consistent structure.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding Proteins

Proteins are made up of 20 different types of amino acids. These amino acids can be arranged in a variety of sequences, leading to a vast array of possible proteins each with its unique structure, function, and properties. Furthermore, the folding of these sequences into complex 3D structures adds another level of variety.
02

Understanding Nucleic Acids

Nucleic acids, on the other hand, are composed only of four types of nucleotides: adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine (or uracil, in case of RNA). These nucleotides form two types of nucleic acids: DNA and RNA. The nucleotides in DNA and RNA form sequences, but unlike proteins, the structure of nucleic acids is similar regardless of the sequence. It can exist as a double helix (in the case of DNA) or a single strand (typically for RNA). The structure of nucleic acids is more concerned with the information they carry, rather than their structural diversity.
03

Comparison

So, the diversity in the number and type of building blocks (amino acids) in proteins accounts for their wide variety in structure. On the other hand, the limited types of nucleotides and consistent bonding pattern in nucleic acids result in a more uniform structure.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

Vinyl chloride, \(\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{C}=\mathrm{CHCl}\), undergoes copolymerization with 1,1 -dichloroethylene, \(\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{C}=\mathrm{CCl}_{2},\) to form a polymer commercially known as Saran. Draw the structure of the polymer, showing the repeating monomer units.

Describe the structure of a nucleotide.

In protein synthesis, the selection of a particular amino acid is determined by the so-called genetic code, or a sequence of three bases in DNA. Will a sequence of only two bases unambiguously determine the selection of 20 amino acids found in proteins? Explain.

If untreated, fevers of \(104^{\circ} \mathrm{F}\) or higher may lead to brain damage. Why?

How many different tripeptides can be formed by lysine and alanine?
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Chemistry Textbooks

Physical Chemistry

Read Explanation

Organic Chemistry

Read Explanation

Ionic and Molecular Compounds

Read Explanation

Chemical Reactions

Read Explanation

Chemistry Branches

Read Explanation

Chemical Analysis

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free