What do you mean by secondary and tertiary structure of protein ?

The secondary structure of a protein refers to the local folding patterns within a protein chain, such as alpha helices and beta sheets. These structures are stabilized by hydrogen bonds between amino acids in the protein sequence.

The tertiary structure of a protein refers to the overall three-dimensional shape of the protein, which is determined by the interactions between amino acid side chains. These interactions can include hydrogen bonds, disulfide bonds, hydrophobic interactions, and electrostatic interactions. The tertiary structure is critical for the protein's function, as it determines how the protein interacts with other molecules in the cell.