Backbone representations: Difference between revisions

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==Protein Main Chain==
==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.
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, colored by element:
<font style="font-size:150%;">{{Template:ColorKey_Element_C}}
{{Template:ColorKey_Element_H}}
{{Template:ColorKey_Element_O}}
{{Template:ColorKey_Element_N}}</font>.


*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.
*First, we'll simplify by <scene name='59/599354/Helix/2'>hiding the hydrogen atoms</scene>. [[Hydrogen in macromolecular models|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.
*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.