Memotiva AP Biology Unit 1 Topic 1.4 and 1.5: Proteins, Amino Acids, Peptide Bonds, and Four Levels of Protein Structure

What is the tertiary structure of a protein?

AP Biology Unit 1 Topic 1.4 and 1.5: Proteins, Amino Acids, Peptide Bonds, and Four Levels of Protein Structure

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Nortren·April 11, 2026

What is the tertiary structure of a protein?

0:19

The tertiary structure is the overall three-dimensional shape of a single polypeptide, determined by interactions between the R groups of distant amino acids. These interactions include hydrogen bonds, ionic bonds, hydrophobic interactions, and disulfide bridges. Tertiary structure is what gives a protein its functional shape.