Final answer:
The structure of the side chains of amino acids contributes to a protein's shape. This includes interactions like ionic and hydrogen bonding and disulfide linkages, resulting in a protein's tertiary and quaternary structures. (option c)
Step-by-step explanation:
The aspect that aids in giving rise to protein shape is c. The structure of the side chain component of an amino acid. The sequence and number of amino acids determine a protein's shape, size, and function. Proteins are organized into four structural levels: primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary. The primary structure is the unique sequence of amino acids in the polypeptide chain.
The protein's secondary structure includes local folding into alpha-helices and beta-pleated sheets, stabilized by hydrogen bonds. The tertiary structure is the overall three-dimensional shape, further stabilized by different types of bonding and interactions such as ionic bonding, hydrogen bonding, and disulfide linkages. Lastly, the quaternary structure consists of interactions between several polypeptide chains or subunits.
Hence, the answer is option c