BIOMOLECULES AND ENZYMES

Detailed explanation-1: -Heavy metal salts, Ag+, Hg+ and Pb+ denature proteins by reacting with the sulfhydryl groups to form stable, metal-sulfur bonds. This prevents formation of needed disulfide bonds.

Detailed explanation-2: -General consensus holds that proteins are the prime targets; heavy metals interfere with the physiological activity of specific, particularly susceptible proteins, either by forming a complex with functional side chain groups or by displacing essential metal ions in metalloproteins.

Detailed explanation-3: -solution by heavy metal ions. These metal ions precipitate the protein from their solution. On the alkaline side of isoelectric pH, Protein dissociates as protein anion(Pr-) which combines with positive metal ion (cation) to form insoluble precipitate of metal proteinate such as lead albuminate and silver albuminate.

Detailed explanation-4: -There are variety of reagents and conditions which can protein denaturation, such as urea, temperature, pH, alcohol, heavy metal, etc. Heavy metal salts present in the vicinity of a protein can induce protein denaturation by disturbing the disulfide bond.