Question

what are the intermolecular forces that drive biomolecular interactions for the following processes.

A) Globular soluble protein folding

B) DNA helix formation

C) Membrane formation of phospholipids

Answer 1

A) Globular soluble protein folding is formed by the arrangements of non-polar aminoacids to the interior and the polar aminoacids to the outside of the protein. Polar aminoacids form dipole-dipole interaction with water. Non-covalent interactions such as hydrogen bonds, van der waals interactions and hydrophobic interactions form this globular structure of protein.

B) Hydrogen bonds between the two strands of nitrogen bases are the basic for the double helical structure of DNA.

C) phospholipid's tail is hydrophobic in nature. They join together by hydrophobic interactions. This is called as hydrophobic effect.