Denaturation of Proteins
Proteins have finite lifetimes. They are also subject to environmental damages like oxidation
proteolysis, denaturation and other irreversible modifications.
Denaturation involves the destruction of the higher level structural organization (20
, 30
and 40
) of
protein with the retention of the primary structure by denaturing agents.
A denatured protein loses its native physico-chemical and biological properties since the bonds
that stabilize the protein are broken down. Thus the polypeptide chain unfolds itself and remain
in solution in the unfolded state. The denatured protein may retain its biological activity by
refolding (renaturing) when the denaturing agent is removed.
Fig 5.20: Denaturation of proteins