Question

What are the common types of secondary structure of proteins?

Answer 1

The secondary structure of protein refers to the shape in which a long polypeptide chain can exist. They are found to exist in two different types of structures, viz., an α-helix and a β-pleated sheet structure. These structures arise due to the regular folding of the backbone of the polypeptide chain due to hydrogen bonding between \[\begin{array}{cc}\ce{O}\\||\\\ce{-C-}\end{array}\] and –NH– groups of the peptide bond.

α-Helix is one of the most common ways in which a polypeptide chain forms all possible hydrogen bonds by twisting into a right handed screw (helix) with the –NH group of each amino acid residue hydrogen bonded to the \[\begin{array}{cc}\backslash\phantom{.....}\\\ce{C=O}\\/\phantom{......}\end{array}\] of an adjacent turn of the helix as shown in the figure.

    α-Helix structure of proteins

In β-pleated sheet structure, all peptide chains are stretched out to nearly maximum extension and then laid side by side, which are held together by intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The structure resembles the pleated folds of drapery and therefore is known as a β-pleated sheet.

β-Pleated sheet structure of proteins