How does the folding and shaping of tertiary structure of proteins take place?

Hydrophobic interactions

The correct answer is option 3. Hydrophobic interactions.

The folding and shaping of the tertiary structure of proteins are primarily driven by hydrophobic interactions. These interactions occur as hydrophobic (water-fearing) amino acid side chains tend to cluster together in the interior of the protein, away from the aqueous environment. This process helps the protein achieve a stable three-dimensional structure. While other forces such as hydrogen bonding, van der Waals forces, ionic interactions, and sometimes disulfide bridges (a type of covalent bond) also contribute to the stability of the tertiary structure, hydrophobic interactions are particularly crucial in driving the initial folding process.