Final answer:
Altering a peptide bond would most likely affect the function of the polypeptide, as it is fundamental to the protein's primary structure, which dictates its shape and function.
Step-by-step explanation:
Among the options provided, altering a peptide bond would most likely affect the function of the polypeptide. A peptide bond is a covalent bond that connects amino acids in a polypeptide chain, and it is formed through a dehydration reaction. This bond is crucial to maintaining the primary structure of the protein, which determines its overall shape and function.
Changes to hydrogen bonds, Van der Waals interactions, or disulfide bonds can also impact protein structure and function but in the context of the protein's tertiary structure. However, the alteration of a peptide bond will impact the primary structure and consequently have a more drastic effect on the protein's function. A peptide bond alteration could lead to the creation of a completely different polypeptide with potentially different properties and functions.
As an example, the functional differences between human and bovine insulin are due, in part, to the alterations in the amino acid sequence and the subsequent changes in the peptide bonds linking them, despite both types of insulin having the same biological role.