Final answer:
Denaturation is the change in the three-dimensional structure of a protein that renders it incapable of performing its function. It affects the primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structure of a protein.
Step-by-step explanation:
Denaturation is the term used for any change in the three-dimensional structure of a protein that renders it incapable of performing its assigned function.
It can be caused by various reagents and conditions such as heat, organic compounds, pH changes, and heavy metal ions. Denaturation affects each level of protein structure:
Primary structure: Denaturation does not affect the primary structure of a protein, which refers to the linear sequence of amino acids.
Secondary structure: Denaturation can disrupt the regular patterns of secondary structure, such as alpha helices and beta sheets.
The hydrogen bonds holding these structures together can be broken.
Tertiary structure: Denaturation can cause the 3D folding and arrangement of secondary structure elements to be disrupted.
This can result in the loss of the protein's active site, leading to a loss of function.
Quaternary structure: Denaturation can disrupt the interactions between multiple polypeptide chains in a protein complex, causing its subunits to separate.
Overall, denaturation affects the folded shape, stability, and function of a protein.