Practice Questions

TLS Online TPP Program

#Question id: 720

How would a homopolymer of alanine be more likely to form an alpha helix in water or in a hydrophobic medium?

#Unit 1. Structure and Function of Biomolecules

In an aqueous environment, the formation of intrachain hydrogen bonds stabilizes the amide hydrogen atoms and carbonyl oxygen atoms of the polypeptide chain, and so an alpha helix forms. In an hydrophobic environment, these groups are stabilized by interaction with water, and so there is no energetic reason to form an a helix. Thus, the alpha helix would be more likely to form in a aqueous environment.
In a hydrophobic environment, the formation of intrachain hydrogen bonds stabilizes the amide hydrogen atoms and carbonyl oxygen atoms of the polypeptide chain, and so an alpha helix forms. In an aqueous environment, these groups are stabilized by interaction with water, and so there is no energetic reason to form an alpha helix. Thus, the alpha helix would be more likely to form in a hydrophobic environment.
In both hydrophobic environment as well as aqueous environment, the formation of intrachain hydrogen bonds stabilizes the amide hydrogen atoms and carbonyl oxygen atoms of the polypeptide chain, and so an alpha helix forms.
In a aqueous environment, the formation of interchain hydrogen bonds stabilizes the amide hydrogen atoms and carbonyl oxygen atoms of the polypeptide chain, and so an alpha helix forms. In an hydrophobic environment, these groups are stabilized by interaction with water, and so there is no energetic reason to form an alpha helix. Thus, the alpha helix would be more likely to form in a aqueous environment.