Describe the different non-covalent interactions in protein structure.
Answers
Non-covalent interactions can be classified into different categories, such as electrostatic, π-effects, van der Waals forces, and hydrophobic effects. Non-covalent interactions are critical in maintaining the three-dimensional structure of large molecules, such as proteins and nucleic acids.There are four main types of noncovalent bonds in biological systems: hydrogen bonds, ionic bonds, van der Waals interactions, and hydrophobic bonds. The bond energies for these interactions range from about 1 to 5 kcal/mol.Non-covalent interactions. A non-covalent interaction differs from a covalent bond in that it does not involve the sharing of electrons, but rather involves more dispersed variations of electromagnetic interactions between molecules or within a molecule.