Final answer:
Temperature and pH are environmental factors that influence protein shape; denaturation alters protein structure, leading to loss of function. The shape of a protein is essential to its role.
Step-by-step explanation:
The two environmental factors that influence the shape of proteins are changes in temperature and pH levels. These factors can lead to a permanent alteration in a protein's shape, a process known as denaturation. When a protein's three-dimensional structure is altered due to denaturation, it usually loses its functionality because the specific shape of a protein is crucial to its function, similar to how a key needs to be the correct shape to fit a lock.
Proteins are composed of amino acids and their three-dimensional structures, including the secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures, are determined by the sequence of these amino acids. Hydrophobic and hydrophilic interactions among the amino acids contribute to the protein folding process. Denaturation disrupts these interactions, which can lead to diseases associated with protein misfolding.