# 3.1 Building the Hydrophobic Core

> Building the Hydrophobic Core (Module 3: The Architect). Key concept: Core packing & van der Waals. Explain why the hydrophobic core is the primary thermodynamic driving force for folding.

Building the Hydrophobic Core (Module 3: The Architect). Key concept: Core packing & van der Waals. Explain why the hydrophobic core is the primary thermodynamic driving force for folding.

- Explain why the hydrophobic core is the primary thermodynamic driving force for folding
- Explain why packing quality matters as much as burial: van der Waals contact, not just exclusion of water
- Match hydrophobic side chains by size and shape so they pack complementarily
- Identify cavities and packing defects as destabilising, and estimate what they cost

## Links

- [Module 3: The Architect](https://proteindesign.academy/module/3)
- [3.2 Disulfide Bridges](https://proteindesign.academy/module/3/2)
- [3.3 Surface vs Buried: The Inside-Out Rule](https://proteindesign.academy/module/3/3)
- [3.4 Domain Architecture](https://proteindesign.academy/module/3/4)
- [3.integration The Protein Repair Shop](https://proteindesign.academy/module/3/integration)
- [The Folding Architect](https://proteindesign.academy/module/3/capstone)