Question

1. What are the two mutually opposite requirements of the interactions that stabilize the structures of biomolecules? I don't understand please help me anyone, thank you so much for your time.

Answer 1

There occur two major types of interactions that occur in biomolecules due to the different parts of the molecules. These are the covalent interactions and the non-covalent interactions. Covalent interactions are those that occur exclusively between uncharged, non-polar functional groups and include van der Waals forces, pi-pi-interactions and London forces while non-covalent interactions occur exclusively between charged functional groups like electrostatic interactions and hydrogen-bonding.

Though mutually exclusive, the combination of these two interactions are required to stabilize the ambiphilic biomolecules, which are designed to consist of both non-polar and polar functional groups in a particular proportion, according to the polarity of the location of the biomolecule. Thus, without the presence of either of type interactions, the biomolecules will either be inert to its surroundings completely, rendering it useless or have no residual interactions for binding with other biomolecules since all its sites for intermolecular interaction will be filled by interaction with the cytoplasmic fluid or nucleus material.

For instance, if a phospholipid did not have the proper hydrophobic interaction through its long-chain hydrocarbon "tail", the phosphate "head" would completely get solvated by the water molecules and positive ions, rendering the formation of the lipid bilayer impossible for membrane construction.