Backbone representations: Difference between revisions
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Backbone representations are simplified 3D depictions of proteins or nucleic acids that enable the polymer chain structure to be seen. | |||
== | <StructureSection load='' size='400' side='right' caption='' scene='59/599354/Helix/1'> | ||
<scene name='59/599354/Helix/2'> | ==Protein Main Chain== | ||
Here is a small alpha helix (15 amino acids)<ref>Residues 23-37 from [[1pgb]].</ref> In the <scene name='59/599354/Helix/1'>initial scene</scene>, all atoms are shown. | |||
*First, we'll simplify by <scene name='59/599354/Helix/2'>hiding the hydrogen atoms</scene>. [[Hydrogen]] atoms make up almost exactly 50% of the atoms in proteins. | |||
*Next, we'll simplify by <scene name='59/599354/Helix/3'>hiding the amino acid side chains</scene>. What remains is called the main chain. Each amino acid's main chain atoms are N-C-C, where the first C is the alpha carbon, and the second, the carboxyl carbon with its double-bonded oxygen (double bonds not shown). We could also <scene name='59/599354/Helix/4'>hide the oxygen atoms</scene>, leaving only the atoms that are part of the '''main chain''', also called the backbone. | |||
==Protein Backbone Trace== | |||
<scene name='59/599354/Helix/5'>backbone</scene> | <scene name='59/599354/Helix/5'>backbone</scene> | ||
