1. The primary structure of any protein dictates the overall 3-D shape of that p

Question

1. The primary structure of any protein dictates the overall 3-D shape of that protein. In class, we discussed secondary, tertiary and quaternary structure. Please describe in detail how mutations to the primary structure would alter the higher order structures; provide specific examples of the types of mutations that you made and what affect it/they would have on the three higher order structures. Consider secondary, tertiary and quaternary independently (you will have a total of three examples) in your answer. You may not repeat any mechanism in your three mutant examples

Explanation / Answer

I can take the example of sickle cell anaemia over here. In the normal haemoglobin Beta chain is coded on chromosome no. 11. A change of valine (GTG) for glutamic acid (GAG) on the 7th position, changes the overall tertiary structure of the protein. It changes the shape of haemoglobin molecule and makes it sickle shape. The sickle shape haemoglobin has reduced oxygen carrying capacity in comparison to normal haemoglobin.

This is a transversion mutation , which converts purine, A to pyrimidine, T; and is a point mutation.

Change in secondary structure:- the sickle cell shape is the quarternary structure of the protein. Their is a change in tertiary structure which converts from globular to somewhat fibrous protein, due to change in the single base sequence.

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