Which of the following elements are present in all proteins? I. Carbon II. Hydrogen III. Oxygen IV. Nitrogen Select the correct answer from the codes given below: Codes:
Reviewed by Dalvoy
UPSC Civil Services preparation
- AII and III
- BI, II and IV
- CI, III and IV
- DI, II, III and IVCorrect
Explanation
Proteins are complex organic compounds made up of building blocks called amino acids. Every amino acid fundamentally consists of four chemical elements: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen.
Carbon forms the central backbone of the molecule. Hydrogen and oxygen are essential components of the carboxyl and amino groups. Nitrogen is a distinguishing feature of proteins that sets them apart from carbohydrates and fats. While some proteins may also contain elements like sulfur or phosphorus, carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen are universally present in all protein structures. Therefore, all four listed elements are correct.
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