Question

What is the region of a protein that confers a specific function such as phospholipid binding?

1) Amino acid sequence
2) Active site
3) Binding site
4) Functional domain

Answer 1

The region of a protein that confers a specific function such as phospholipid binding is the binding site, usually formed by the tertiary structure of the protein.

Step-by-step explanation:

The region of a protein that confers a specific function such as phospholipid binding is known as the binding site. The binding site is a region where the protein can interact with another molecule, often forming a depression on the surface of the protein shaped by its tertiary structure.

For example, a protein embedded in the cell membrane will typically have hydrophobic amino acids within its core to interact with the lipid bilayer, and hydrophilic amino acids on its surface that face towards the aqueous environment. In the case of enzymes, the specific part of the enzyme where the substrate binds is known as the active site.