Final answer:
A β-pleated sheet typically consists of two or more strands that are connected by interchain hydrogen bonding and can run parallel or antiparallel to each other; these structures are important in many proteins.
Step-by-step explanation:
Typically, a region of a β-pleated sheet is composed of two or more separate strands, each containing a sequence of amino acids. These strands are aligned side by side and can run either parallel or antiparallel, meaning the N-terminals may face in the same or opposite directions. These aligned segments are interconnected by interchain hydrogen bonding, forming the characteristic pleats. A β-pleated sheet is an integral component in structural proteins, such as silk fibroin, and is also present in many enzymes like carboxypeptidase A and lysozyme.