Quaternary Protein Structure
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Protein Structure
Summary
The quaternary structure of proteins is the highest level of protein structure, and refers to the interactions between separate proteins to form a multiprotein complex.
Key Points
- Quaternary Structure
- Interactions between separate proteins to form a multiprotein complex
- Involves the same forces as tertiary structures
- Interactions with water, hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions, van der Waals forces, and disulfide bonds
Example
One common example of quaternary structure is the bringing together of 4 globin proteins in hemoglobin. These 4 globin molecules and heme come together to form a single multi-protein complex called hemoglobin, which plays a key role in carrying oxygen in our blood.