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Gene expressionProtein structure

Gene expression is the process by which specific genes are activated to produce a required protein. The process is made up of the transcription and translation of DNA sequences.

Part of Human BiologyHuman Cells

Protein structure

Proteins carry out many important functions in living things. A protein鈥檚 function is dependent on its structure and so proteins have a wide variety of structures to support these functions.

They can speed up reactions as enzymes, send messages as hormones, fight infection as antibodies, and much more.

The function on proteins is dependent on its shape. The final structure of proteins is determined by its sequence of amino acids.

Amino acids are linked by peptide bonds to form polypeptides. Hydrogen bonds cause the amino acids to fold into a repeating pattern.

The final 3D shape of a protein is held together by hydrogen bonds and interactions between individual amino acids.

Protein structure