protein structure

Cultural  

1. The three-dimensional structure of a protein that is often key to its enzyme function. The structure of a protein is characterized in four ways: The primary structure is the order of the different amino acids in a protein chain, whereas the secondary structure consists of the geometry of chain segments in forms such as helices or sheets. The tertiary structure describes how a protein folds in on itself; the quaternary structure of a protein describes how different protein chains hook up with each other.

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Example Sentences

The team found that sea silk's iridescence is created by a spherical protein structure known as "photonin."

From Science Daily • Feb. 9, 2026

The amount and identity of natural lipids – fats and oils – found within a specific muscle tissue can influence the protein structure, and therefore the flavor, tenderness and juiciness, of the meat.

From Salon • Nov. 25, 2024

The findings, published today in Nature, could revolutionize wide swathes of biology by fundamentally changing how protein structure is studied and leveraged for drug design.

From Science Daily • May 15, 2024

Bishop-Lilly’s team used the DNA sequences to predict the protein structure of the virus—a clue to whether it could dock with four known receptors that other coronaviruses use to enter cells.

From Science Magazine • Apr. 22, 2024

Furthermore, the protein structure of the body cells and the salts of the bones and other tissues are in a constant state of wearing down.

From Food in War Time by Lusk, Graham