denaturation

(noun)

Denaturation is a process in which proteins or nucleic acids lose their tertiary and secondary structure which is present in their native state, by application of some external stress or compound such as a strong acid or base, a concentrated inorganic salt, an organic solvent (e.g., alcohol or chloroform), or heat.

Related Terms

Examples of denaturation in the following topics:

  • The Role of the Kidneys in Acid-Base Balance

    • Outside the range, pH becomes incompatible with life; proteins are denatured and digested, enzymes lose their ability to function, and the body is unable to sustain itself.

  • Fever

    • Fever is normally a beneficial immune process since increased body temperature can kill off bacteria and viruses and denature bacterial enzymes.
    • High fevers also denature the body's own proteins, which can alter normal cell metabolism, leading to cell injury and death.

  • Chemical Buffer Systems

    • Outside the acceptable range of pH, proteins are denatured and digested, enzymes lose their ability to function, and death may occur.

  • Microscopic Anatomy of the Stomach

    • The function of gastric acid is two fold: 1) it kills most of the bacteria in food, stimulates hunger, and activates pepsinogen into pepsin; and 2) it denatures the complex protein molecule as a precursor to protein digestion through enzyme action in the stomach and small intestines.

  • Proteins: Sources, Uses in the Body, and Dietary Requirements

    • Ingested proteins are then broken down into amino acids through digestion, which typically involves denaturation of the protein through exposure to acid and hydrolysis by enzymes called proteases.

  • Semen

    • These alkaline bases counteract the acidic environment of the vaginal canal and protect DNA inside the sperm from acidic denaturation.

  • Spleen

    • The macrophages also remove pathogens, denatured hemoglobin, and other cellular debris.