In sickle-cell disease, as a result of a single amino acid change, the mutant hemoglobin tetramers associate with each other and assemble into large fibers. Based on this information alone, we can conclude that sickle-cell hemoglobin exhibits ________.
A. only altered primary structure
B. only altered tertiary structure
C. only altered quaternary structure
D. altered primary structure and altered quaternary structure; the secondary and tertiary structures may or may not be altered
Answer:D
In sickle-cell disease, as a result of a single amino acid change, the mutant hemoglobin tetramers associate with each other and assemble into large fibers. Based on this information alone, we can conclude that sickle-cell hemoglobin exhibits ________.
A. only altered primary structure B. only altered tertiary structure C. only altered quaternary structure D. altered primary structure and altered quaternary structure; the secondary and tertiary structures may or may not be altered