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In biochemistry, denaturation is a process in which proteins or nucleic acids lose folded structure present in their native state due to various factors, including 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), agitation and radiation, or heat. [3]
Folded, 3-D structure of ribonuclease A. Anfinsen's dogma, also known as the thermodynamic hypothesis, is a postulate in molecular biology.It states that, at least for a small globular protein in its standard physiological environment, the native structure is determined only by the protein's amino acid sequence. [1]
In biochemistry, equilibrium unfolding is the process of unfolding a protein or RNA molecule by gradually changing its environment, such as by changing the temperature or pressure, pH, adding chemical denaturants, or applying force as with an atomic force microscope tip.
To maintain this defined three-dimensional structure, proteins rely on various types of interactions between their amino acid residues. If these interactions are interfered with, for example by extreme pH values, high temperature or high ion concentrations, this will cause the enzyme to denature and lose its catalytic activity. [citation needed]
Denaturation (biochemistry), a structural change in macromolecules caused by extreme conditions; Denaturation (fissile materials), transforming fissile materials so that they cannot be used in nuclear weapons; Denaturation (food), intentional adulteration of food or drink rendering it unfit for consumption while remaining suitable for other uses
A thermal shift assay (TSA) measures changes in the thermal denaturation temperature and hence stability of a protein under varying conditions such as variations in drug concentration, buffer formulation (pH or ionic strength), redox potential, or sequence mutation. The most common method for measuring protein thermal shifts is differential ...
Extreme temperatures can weaken and destabilize the non-covalent interactions between the amino acid residues. pHs outside of the protein's pH range can change the protonation state of the amino acids, which can increase or decrease the non-covalent interactions. This can also lead to less stable interactions and result in protein unfolding.
A nucleation-condensation mechanism involving concomitant formation of short and long-range interactions combines features of both extreme models and thereby represents a unifying mechanism of protein folding. [3] During folding, proteins span a continuum of conformers starting from the denature and ending at the native state.