Quaternary structure

{
  "id": "MLC-T-CHM-009779",
  "term": "Quaternary structure",
  "field": "Chemistry",
  "definition": "The highest level of protein organization, referring to the arrangement of multiple polypeptide chains (subunits) in a multi-subunit protein complex. This structure describes how these individual protein subunits associate with each other to form a functional macromolecule. Hemoglobin, for example, exhibits quaternary structure, consisting of four polypeptide chains (two alpha and two beta subunits) that cooperate to bind oxygen.",
  "subject": "Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry",
  "see_also": [
    "primary structure",
    "secondary structure",
    "tertiary structure"
  ],
  "references": [
    "PAC, 1996, 68, 2193. 'Basic terminology of stereochemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1996)' on page 2216 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199668122193)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/chemistry/quaternary-structure/"
}