1. In biochemistry, the local three-dimensional structure of a protein or nucleic acid, typically stabilized by hydrogen bonds between backbone atoms, including alpha helices and beta sheets in proteins and hairpin loops in RNA.
The alpha helix is one of the most common types of secondary structure found in proteins.
A hélice alfa é um dos tipos mais comuns de estrutura secundária encontrada em proteínas.
2. A structural level of organization intermediate between primary structure and tertiary structure in biological macromolecules.
Understanding secondary structure is essential for predicting how proteins will fold.
Compreender a estrutura secundária é essencial para prever como as proteínas se dobram.