BIOMOLECULES AND ENZYMES

Detailed explanation-1: -What is Denaturation of Proteins? Denaturation implies the destruction of the tertiary structure of a protein molecule and the formation of random polypeptide chains. Denaturation of proteins is one of the phenomenons that results in the disturbance of stability and structure of the protein.

Detailed explanation-2: -A protein becomes denatured when its normal shape gets deformed because some of the hydrogen bonds are broken. Weak hydrogen bonds break when too much heat is applied or when they are exposed to an acid (like citric acid from lemon juice).

Detailed explanation-3: -Functions of Denaturation At the level of the biological system, denaturation is used by the body to kill pathogens. It does so through pH regulation and biochemical secretions. Denaturation is also important during food digestion. Proteins in food are denatured by the action of the released digestive enzymes.

Detailed explanation-4: -Denaturation leads to the loss of protein function. In a protein-based enzyme, it could be a small change in the conformation of the active site, which renders it incapable of catalyzing a reaction. For proteins like antibodies, the loss of shape removes their ability to recognize and bind to antigens.