When discussing secondary structure, which one of the following best indicates how alpha-helices were described?

Question

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Question restatement: The prompt asks, when discussing secondary structure, which option best indicates how alpha-helices were described.

Given answer: "As right-handed coils".

Option analysis (note: the provided answer options list is empty in the input, so I will reason about the typical options and the given correct answer):

- Typical correct understanding: Alpha-helices in proteins are described as right-handed coils. This means the helical turn progresses in a clockwise manner when viewed from the top, and the backbone winds in a right-handed screw sense. This description aligns with common structural biology teaching and the vast majority of known protein structures.

- Left-handed helices: If an option stated that alpha-helices are left-handed, this would be incorrect. In proteins, left-handed helices are extremely rare and generally not observed as canonical alpha-helices; most left-handed helices, when they appear, are in unusual contexts or under specific constraints, not the standard description of alpha helices.

- Overly narrow statements about one-way understanding: If an option claimed there is only one way to describe motivation or structure (e.g., only one handedness), that would be inaccurate. Protein secondary structure is described by established conventions: alpha-helices are predominantly right-handed; beta-sheets have a different geometry; there are exceptions and nuances, but the dominant description is right-handed.

- Option about only describing physiological states or only one aspect: Any option suggesting that alpha-helices describe solely a physiological or emotional state, or that the description is limited to one aspect of structure, would miss the structural chemistry and geometry involved, making it incorrect.

In summary, the scientifically supported statement is that alpha-helices are described as right-handed coils. The alternatives that propose left-handed helices or restrict the description to an incorrect scope would be inaccurate. The visualization with two helices (one left-handed, one right-handed) typically reinforces that right-handed helices are the standard description for alpha helices, whereas left-handed representations are not the canonical form.

BIOL3612.MERGED.202610 Activity Questions 1B: Protein Overview

When discussing secondary structure, which one of the following best indicates how alpha-helices were described?

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