Question

You find a large protein that has a single binding site for the polysaccharide cellulose. which amino acids might you expect to find in the binding pocket of the protein? what is the strongest type of interaction possible between these amino acids and the cellulose?

Answer 1

Cellulose refers to a polymer of glucose and as such has various free hydroxyl groups. These hydroxyl groups could result in hydrogen bonds with any of the uncharged or charged polar amino acids.

One can consider serine, asparagine, threonine, tyrosine, glutamine, lysine, histidine, glutamic acid or aspartic acid to be associated with the cellulose binding.