Proteins and Enzymes

ID #2113

Is the hydrophobic effect only a stabilization factor for tertiary structures? Also, do we need to know which stability factors are predominantly associated with which structures?

First, you are expected to know which forces stabilize which structures.
Secondly, I believe that the hydrophobic effect is most commonly found in
tertiary structures because those hydrophobic groups like to hide from water
and they tend to do this during that stage. I believe it is also possible to
have hydrophobic forces in quaternary structure to hold different subunits
together, but remember that most of the hydrophobic amino acid residues will get
buried on the inside of the protein during tertiary folding. 

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