Chemical Forums

Specialty Chemistry Forums => Biochemistry and Chemical Biology Forum => Topic started by: paperclip on August 26, 2005, 01:05:09 AM

Title: Disulphide bridges
Post by: paperclip on August 26, 2005, 01:05:09 AM

I think that the disulphide bond is in itself pretty weak. But when used as a bridge linking polypeptides, it makes the polypeptide on overall a stronger structure than it was to begin with.

For example- melting sulphur:
Crash cooling of sulphur generates enormously long chains of "plastic sulphur" from the 8-sulphur-ring (or part rings as is common when you heat sulphur).

Secret to better rubber:
sulphur bridges hold the rubber units together, thereby increasing the strength of the rubber. This is the secret of vulcanising. ;)

Title: Re:Disulphide bridges
Post by: paperclip on August 26, 2005, 01:07:30 AM

Oh ya, I forgot to add, has that got anything to do with peroxydisulphate in which the two oxygen are joined by a weak bond which is easily borken. Such compounds are reactive and can act as oxidising agents.