Primary structure

Primary structure refers to the sequence of amino acids in a protein. It is the simplest level of protein structure and is fundamental to the protein's function and shape. The primary structure of a protein is determined by the gene corresponding to the protein. A specific sequence of nucleotides in DNA is transcribed into mRNA, which is read by the ribosome in a process called translation.

Determination of primary structure

The primary structure of a protein can be determined by methods such as Edman degradation and mass spectrometry. Edman degradation, developed by Pehr Victor Edman, allows for the sequencing of proteins up to 50 amino acids long. Mass spectrometry, on the other hand, can be used to determine the sequence of larger proteins.

Importance of primary structure

The primary structure of a protein is critical to its function. Changes in the primary structure can result in a nonfunctional protein or a protein with a different function. For example, a single change in the primary structure of hemoglobin results in sickle cell disease.

See also

• Protein structure
• Secondary structure
• Tertiary structure
• Quaternary structure

References

Primary structure Resources
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