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The side chain of serine could interact with the side chain of ___ using a(n) ___?

a) Threonine; hydrogen bond
b) Aspartic acid; ionic bond
c) Cysteine; disulfide bond
d) Glycine; hydrophobic interaction

User Flethuseo
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

The side chain of serine can form a hydrogen bond with the side chain of threonine due to their polar hydroxyl groups. Other potential hydrogen bonding interactions could occur with amino acids like asparagine within an enzyme's active site.

Step-by-step explanation:

The side chain of serine could interact with the side chain of threonine using a hydrogen bond. This is because both serine and threonine have polar side chains that can form hydrogen bonds due to the presence of a hydroxyl (-OH) group in their side chain structure. These hydrogen bonds are significant in maintaining the structure and function of proteins, and such interactions are common within the active site of an enzyme where they can play an essential role in substrate binding or the catalytic process.

Another amino acid that could potentially be in the active site of an enzyme and form a hydrogen bond with serine is asparagine, which possesses an amide functional group capable of hydrogen bonding. Ionic bonds between amino acids like aspartic acid and lysine occur via electrostatic attractions, and disulfide bonds arise between two cysteine amino acids through oxidation of their sulfhydryl groups. Hydrophobic interactions, however, are not involved in the interaction between serine and other amino acids with polar or charged side chains.