5. Hydrogen bonds in proteins occur when two electronegative atoms compete for the same hydrogen atom  Donor-H…..Acceptor The angle ‘ Ꝋ ‘ between donor and acceptor of a hydrogen bond was determined from large number of X-ray structures of proteins, as shown below:

Which one of the distribution of ‘Ꝋ’ was ‘observed from the proteins?
(1) Only b (2) Only a
(3) Only c (4) a and b

Hydrogen Bonds and Their Importance in Protein Structure

Protein structures are stabilized by hydrogen bonds, which occur when two electronegative atoms compete for the same hydrogen atom, forming a Donor-H…Acceptor interaction. The angle (θ) between the donor and acceptor influences the strength and stability of the hydrogen bond.

How Hydrogen Bond Angles Are Measured

X-ray crystallography studies have been used to determine the angles of hydrogen bonds in proteins. A large dataset of protein structures has provided insights into the preferred distribution of these angles.

Observed Distribution of Hydrogen Bond Angles

Using X-ray structure analysis, researchers analyzed the distribution of hydrogen bond angles (θ). The data revealed that a specific angle distribution was most frequently observed in protein structures.

Correct Answer: Only c (3)

The observed distribution of hydrogen bond angles aligns with option c, confirming the most prevalent orientation found in protein structures.

Understanding these hydrogen bond angles is crucial for studying protein folding, stability, and interactions, which are essential in structural biology and drug design.