Question

A linear polymer of more than fifty amino acid residues is referred to as a ________

(a) dipeptide

(b) oligopeptide

(c) peptide

(d) polypeptide

I got this question during an internship interview.

This question is from Protein Structure Basics topic in chapter Structural Bioinformatics of Bioinformatics

Answer 1

Correct option is (d) polypeptide

Explanation: A polypeptide, also called a protein, has a well-defined three-dimensional arrangement. On the other hand, a polymer with fewer than fifty residues is usually called a peptide without a well-defined three-dimensional structure. The residues a peptide or polypeptide are numbered beginning with the residue containing the amino group, referred to as the N-terminus, and ending with the residue containing the carboxyl group, known as the C-terminus.