✨ Welcome to the Magic of Polypeptides! ✨ Did you know that polypeptides are like LEGO pieces waiting to be turned into marvelous structures? Let's dive in!

• Polypeptides after the Party: Once translation is done, polypeptides need a makeover to become functional proteins.

• How? Check out these glow-up steps

  • Methionine Exit: Say goodbye to the amino acid methionine from the start (5′ end) of the polypeptide. Think of it as the entry ticket that's no longer needed after entering a concert.
  • Side Chain Swag: Modify the side chains of amino acids. By doing stuff like phosphorylation or adding carbohydrates, we can create over 💯 unique amino acids in proteins.
  • Fold it Fancy: Fold the polypeptide and stabilize its 3D shape. It's like origami, but for proteins. Fun fact: Disulfide bonds form between cysteines that come close due to this folding.
  • Growing Up: Convert propeptides into mature peptides by snipping off parts of the chain. It’s like getting a haircut for that fresh look!
  • Team Up: Combine two or more polypeptides to make quaternary structure proteins.
  • Accessorize: Add non-polypeptide components to the quaternary structure. These are like the trendy hats and scarves of proteins.