What is the secondary structure of proteins primarily formed by?

The secondary structure of proteins is primarily formed by hydrogen bonding between the backbone atoms in the polypeptide chain. In this context, the hydrogen bonds occur between the carbonyl oxygen of one amino acid and the amino hydrogen of another, which stabilizes the formation of structures such as alpha helices and beta sheets. These structures play a crucial role in the overall architecture of proteins and influence their functionality.

Hydrogen bonds are relatively weak compared to covalent bonds, but they provide significant stability in folded protein structures due to the large number of hydrogen bonds that can form in a protein’s secondary and tertiary structures. This makes them essential for maintaining the shape and integrity of proteins across diverse biological processes.