Question

Which of the following can bring about the denaturation of proteins?
a. Reaction to salts of heavy metals
b. Reaction to acids and bases
c. Preservation at a temperature below -5°C
d. All of the above

Answer 1

Hint: Denaturation of proteins, it is the process, in which proteins lose their natural structures such as quaternary, tertiary, and secondary structures, which occurs for several reasons like any stress or by application of heavy metals, etc.

Complete answer:
- Denaturation of proteins may result in a decrease in the solubility and protein aggregation.
- When it comes to the functional structure of a protein.
- The primary structure is the linear arrangement of proteins.
- Secondary structure of a protein, hydrogen bonds are present between the peptide group chain in alpha-helix or beta-sheet.
- Tertiary structure is the three-dimensional arrangement of the alpha-helix structure.
- Quaternary structure is nothing but the three-dimensional structure of the multiple polypeptides.

Process of Denaturation at each level
- In the case of Quaternary structure, the denaturation takes place where the protein subunits are dissociated or spatial arrangement is distorted.
- In the case of tertiary structure, it causes the destruction of covalent, none covalent, and Vander wall interactions.
- In the case of the secondary structure, all the sequence and the arrangement like an alpha helix and beta sheets all are destroyed.
- The primary structure is not denatured in this process as it is the linear arrangement
- Some of the denaturants are an acid like acetic acid and trichloroacetic acid, bases like ethanol, and reagents like formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde.

Hence, The correct answer is option (D).

Note: Proteins normally undergo denaturation at both higher temperature and sometimes it might be very low temperature, in case of high temperature the process occurs by breaking of bonds and distortion of the shape and low temperature it stops being active and does not react normally.