ABSTRACT
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Proteins are linear condensation products of various α-L-amino acids (a.a.) that differ in molecular weight, charge, and nonpolar character (Table 7.1), bound by trans-peptide linkages. They differ in number and distribution of various a.a. residues in the molecule. The chemical properties, size of the side chain, and sequence of the a.a. affect the conformation of the molecule, i.e., the secondary structure containing helical regions, β-pleated sheets, and β-turns; the tertiary structure or the spatial arrangement of the chain; and the quaternary structure — the assembly of several polypeptide chains.
