In
chemistry
Chemistry is the scientific study of the properties and behavior of matter. It is a natural science that covers the elements that make up matter to the compounds made of atoms, molecules and ions: their composition, structure, proper ...
, folding is the process by which a molecule assumes its shape or
conformation. The process can also be described as intramolecular self-assembly, a type of
molecular self-assembly
In chemistry and materials science, molecular self-assembly is the process by which molecules adopt a defined arrangement without guidance or management from an outside source. There are two types of self-assembly: intramolecular and intermol ...
, where the molecule is directed to form a specific shape through
noncovalent interactions, such as
hydrogen bond
In chemistry, a hydrogen bond (or H-bond) is a primarily electrostatic force of attraction between a hydrogen (H) atom which is covalently bound to a more electronegative "donor" atom or group (Dn), and another electronegative atom bearing a l ...
ing, metal coordination,
hydrophobic forces,
van der Waals force
In molecular physics, the van der Waals force is a distance-dependent interaction between atoms or molecules. Unlike ionic or covalent bonds, these attractions do not result from a chemical electronic bond; they are comparatively weak and ...
s,
pi-pi interactions, and/or electrostatic effects.
The most active area of interest in the folding of molecules is the process of
protein folding
Protein folding is the physical process by which a protein chain is translated to its native three-dimensional structure, typically a "folded" conformation by which the protein becomes biologically functional. Via an expeditious and reproduc ...
, which is the shape that is assumed by a specific sequence of
amino acids
Amino acids are organic compounds that contain both amino and carboxylic acid functional groups. Although hundreds of amino acids exist in nature, by far the most important are the alpha-amino acids, which comprise proteins. Only 22 alpha am ...
in a protein. The shape of the folded protein can be used to understand its function and design drugs to influence the processes that it is involved in.
There is also a great deal of interest in the construction of artificial folding molecules or
foldamers. They are studied as models of biological molecules and potential application to the development of new functional materials.
See also
*
Secondary structure
Protein secondary structure is the three dimensional form of ''local segments'' of proteins. The two most common secondary structural elements are alpha helices and beta sheets, though beta turns and omega loops occur as well. Secondary struct ...
*
Tertiary structure
Protein tertiary structure is the three dimensional shape of a protein. The tertiary structure will have a single polypeptide chain "backbone" with one or more protein secondary structures, the protein domains. Amino acid side chains may i ...
References
*A Field Guide to Foldamers. Hill, D. J.; Mio, M. J.; Prince, R. B.; Hughes, T.; Moore, J. S. ''Chem. Rev.'' 2001, ''101'', 3893-4011 .
Supramolecular chemistry
Self-organization
Stereochemistry
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