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Disulphide bridges

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paperclip:
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. ;)

paperclip:
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.

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