What is a common feature of fibrous proteins?

Fibrous proteins are characterized by their structural proteins that play a key role in providing support, shape, and protection to cells and tissues. A common feature of fibrous proteins is their repetitive structural patterns, which contribute to their stability and function. These repetitive sequences often result in elongated, rope-like structures composed of elements such as alpha-helices or beta-sheets.

Such structural regularity allows fibrous proteins to assemble into strong, stable fibers that are critical for the integrity of various biological structures, including collagen in connective tissues and keratin in hair and nails. These proteins typically exhibit mechanical strength and are less soluble in aqueous environments compared to globular proteins, which are usually more soluble due to their varied amino acid compositions and three-dimensional shapes.

The other characteristics associated with fibrous proteins support their structural role rather than emphasizing solubility or enzyme activity, making the repetitive structural patterns the defining attribute in this context.