Quantum Mechanical Studies of N-H···N Hydrogen Bonding in Acetamide Derivatives and Amino Acids

Proteins are made of vast chains of amino acids that twist and fold into intricate designs. These structures are held in place by networks of noncovalent interactions. One of these, the hydrogen bond, forms bridges between adjacent pieces of the protein chain and is one of the most important contributors to the shape and stability of proteins. Hydrogen bonds come in all shapes and sizes and a full understanding of these not only aids in our understanding of proteins in general but can bridge the gap to finding cures to many protein-related diseases, such as sickle-cell anemia. The primary aim of this thesis is to discover if a specific type of hydrogen bond, the N-H···N bond, occurs within proteins and if so, if it contributes to the structure and stability of proteins