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Secondary structures of proteins are polypeptide chains
that form in certain ways to make different shapes which do a specific
job. There are two main types of secondary structures. Two fibrous structures
the alpha helix, and the beta pleated sheet, which are structural components
of the cell. The alpha helix is formed when the polypeptide chains twist
into a spiral. This allows all amino acids in the chain to form hydrogen
bonds with each other. The hydrogen bond attaches a oxygen molecule to
a hydrogen molecule, which allows the helix to hold the spiral shape, and
tightly coiled. The spiraling shape makes the alpha helix very strong.
An example of an alpha helix structure is fingernails or toenails. |