You discover a new cellular protein and find that there are hydrophobic amino acids scattered all along the surface of the folded protein. You know from your 181 lab that hydrophobic amino acids are generally found inside of a protein because hydrophobic amino acids cannot interact with water. Give some ideas about how/why this protein has hydrophobic amino acids on the surface.

Question

Aryana Chambers

Biology

22 October, 13:31

You discover a new cellular protein and find that there are hydrophobic amino acids scattered all along the surface of the folded protein. You know from your 181 lab that hydrophobic amino acids are generally found inside of a protein because hydrophobic amino acids cannot interact with water. Give some ideas about how/why this protein has hydrophobic amino acids on the surface.

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Answers (1)

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Joel Strickland · Answer 1

There are about 9 amino acids that contain hydrophobic side chains in them.

Explanation:

Generally, hydrophobic amino acids lie in the interior of the protein to minimize the interaction with the hydrophilic (water) environment. A new cellular protein with hydrophobic amino acids on surface indicates that there is some error in the folding of the protein due to which hydrophobic amino acids come to the surface. The arrangement of amino acids determine the folding of the protein.