page_title: Protein folding
hierarchical_section_title: Protein folding
caption_attribution_description: English: Protein structure
context_page_description: Protein folding is the process by which a protein gets its functional shape or 'conformation'. It is mainly a self-organising process. Starting from a random coil, polypeptides fold into their characteristic working shape. The structure is held together by hydrogen bonds.
  The stages are:
  Each protein exists as an unfolded polypeptide or random coil when translated from a sequence of mRNA to a linear chain of amino acids. This polypeptide lacks any developed three-dimensional structure.
  Amino acids interact with each other to produce a well-defined three-dimensional structure, the folded protein. This is known as the native state. The resulting three-dimensional structure is determined by the amino acid sequence.
  Without its correct three-dimensional structure a protein does not work. However, some parts of proteins may not fold: this is normal.
  If proteins do not fold into their native shape, they are inactive and are usually toxic. Several diseases are believed to result from misfolded proteins. Many allergies are caused by the folding of the proteins, for the immune system does not produce antibodies for all possible protein structures.
context_section_description: Protein folding is the process by which a protein gets its functional shape or 'conformation'. It is mainly a self-organising process. Starting from a random coil, polypeptides fold into their characteristic working shape. The structure is held together by hydrogen bonds.
  The stages are:
  Each protein exists as an unfolded polypeptide or random coil when translated from a sequence of mRNA to a linear chain of amino acids. This polypeptide lacks any developed three-dimensional structure (left hand side of the top figure).
  Amino acids interact with each other to produce a well-defined three-dimensional structure, the folded protein (right hand side of the figure). This is known as the native state. The resulting three-dimensional structure is determined by the amino acid sequence (Anfinsen's dogma).
  Without its correct three-dimensional structure a protein does not work. However, some parts of proteins may not fold: this is normal.
  If proteins do not fold into their native shape, they are inactive and are usually toxic. Several diseases are believed to result from  misfolded proteins. Many allergies are caused by the folding of the proteins, for the immune system does not produce antibodies for all possible protein structures.
caption: Protein folding is the third stage in the development of protein structure.
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