Which of the following molecular interactions is the strongest in stabilizing the tertiary structure of proteins?

Disulfide bonds are covalent bonds formed between two cysteine residues through oxidation of their sulfhydryl (-SH) groups. These bonds provide strong structural stability to proteins, particularly extracellular proteins like insulin and keratin. Key Points: • Disulfide bonds form between two cysteine residues (-SH → -S-S-). • Stronger than hydrogen bonds and ionic interactions. • Play a crucial role in protein folding and stability. • Found in extracellular and secretory proteins.