Tag: Alpha helix

While the linear component of starch coils into a helical shape, the question 'is starch an alpha helix?' requires a more nuanced answer. The characteristic helical structure of starch is fundamentally different from the true alpha-helix found in proteins.

A fascinating fact of molecular biology is that the average human body contains over 100,000 different types of proteins, each with a unique three-dimensional shape. A key level of this organization is the secondary structure, which provides an example of a secondary protein in action, like the helical keratin in our hair.