Question:medium

Triple helical structure of protein is also called

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Think of it in levels: A single collagen chain forms a "collagen helix". Three of these helices wrap together to form one "tropocollagen" molecule. Many tropocollagen molecules then assemble to form a large "collagen fibril".
Updated On: Mar 17, 2026
  • Peptide bond
  • Collagen helix
  • Tropocollagen
  • Tertiary structure
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Define key terms.

Peptide bond: The covalent bond that joins amino acids.
Collagen helix: A left-handed helix describing the structure of a single collagen polypeptide chain.
Tropocollagen: The basic unit of a collagen fibril, composed of three polypeptide chains (alpha chains) twisted together in a right-handed triple helix.
Tertiary structure: The complete three-dimensional conformation of a single polypeptide chain.
Step 2: Identify the triple helix structure.The question seeks the name for the triple-helix formed by three intertwined polypeptide chains. This structure is tropocollagen. "Collagen helix" denotes the single-chain structure, while "tropocollagen" describes the complete three-chain complex.
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