What is protein variation?

Variations in proteins have very large number of diverse effects affecting sequence, structure, stability, interactions, activity, abundance and other properties. Protein variants can be of genetic origin or emerge at protein level.

Which type of interactions are important for proteins structural integrity?

Covalent interactions In addition to the covalent bonds that connect the atoms of a single amino acid and the covalent peptide bond that links amino acids in a protein chain, covalent bonds between cysteine side chains are important determinants of protein structure.

How might this change affect the structure and function of the protein?

A change in the gene’s DNA sequence may lead to a change in the amino acid sequence of the protein. Even changing just one amino acid in a protein’s sequence can affect the protein’s overall structure and function.

How are variations in protein structure formed?

Each protein has its own unique shape. If the temperature or pH of a protein’s environment is changed, or if it is exposed to chemicals, these interactions may be disrupted, causing the protein to lose its three-dimensional structure and turn back into an unstructured string of amino acids.

What might be the effect of this change in structure of the protein?

Because form determines function, any slight change to a protein’s shape may cause the protein to become dysfunctional. Small changes in the amino acid sequence of a protein can cause devastating genetic diseases such as Huntington’s disease or sickle cell anemia.

Why is it important to study protein-protein interactions?

Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) play a crucial role in cellular functions and biological processes in all organisms. The identification of protein interactions can lead to a better understanding of infection mechanisms and the development of several medication drugs and treatment optimization.