Difference between alpha helix and beta-sheet

Question

What is the basic difference between alpha helix and beta-sheet protein conformations?

Answer 1

Alpha helix and beta-sheet conformations are the two major kinds of secondary structure of a protein molecule. According to primary protein structure, its secondary structure can be of one kind or other.

In alpha-helix structure, the polypeptide curls longitudinally by the act of hydrogen bonds making a spiral, or helix. In the beta-sheet conformation, the protein is much distended and the hydrogen bonds form a zigzag shaped protein structure termed as B-strand. Most of the assembled beta-strands form a beta-sheet.