Hydrophobic interactions make important energetic contributions to:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Hydrophobic interactions are important in all of the listed biological phenomena. In hormone-receptor binding, the hydrophobic portions of the hormone and receptor can interact through hydrophobic interactions. Enzyme-substrate interactions can also involve hydrophobic interactions, as the enzyme's hydrophobic amino acids may interact with hydrophobic portions of the substrate. Hydrophobic interactions play a major role in membrane structure, as the hydrophobic tails of membrane lipids avoid contact with the surrounding aqueous environment. Finally, hydrophobic interactions are important in the three-dimensional folding of proteins, as amino acid residues that are not compatible with water can cluster together, driving the formation of specific protein structures.

Hydrophobic Interactions Make Important Energetic Contributions To