Essential Cell Biology, 4th Edition

Published by Garland Science
ISBN 10: 0815344546
ISBN 13: 978-0-81534-454-4

Chapter 3 - Energy, Catalysis, and Biosynthesis - Questions - Page 117: Question 3-12 C

Answer

Around 4 or 5 hydrogen bonds would be needed

Work Step by Step

Interacting proteins that are present in cells in lower concentrations need to bind to each other with high affinities so that a significant fraction of the molecules are bound at equilibrium. In this particular case, lowering the concentration by three orders of magnitude (from uM to nM) requires a change in the equilibrium constant by three orders of magnitude to maintain the AB protein complex (corresponding to -4.3 kcal of free energy; see Table 3-1). This corresponds to about four or five extra hydrogen bonds.
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