Question

Which of the following amino acids will be located on the interior of a folded protein? Select all that apply.

a) Nonpolar amino acids
b) Hydrophobic amino acids
c) Hydrophilic amino acids
d) Polar amino acids

Answer 1

Nonpolar and hydrophobic amino acids are typically located in the interior of a protein due to their incompatibility with water, while polar and hydrophilic amino acids are found on the surface.

Step-by-step explanation:

Within a folded protein, the location of amino acids is influenced by their properties in relation to the aqueous environment. Nonpolar amino acids and hydrophobic amino acids will typically be found in the interior of the protein. This is because they are ill-suited for interaction with water and therefore tend to be sequestered away from the aqueous cellular environment to stabilize the protein structure. In contrast, polar amino acids and those that are hydrophilic, which are capable of forming hydrogen bonds or ionic interactions with water, are typically found on the protein surface. This facilitates interactions with the watery cellular environment.

Therefore, the correct choices that apply to amino acids you would expect to find on the interior of a folded protein are both a) Nonpolar amino acids and b) Hydrophobic amino acids.