Final answer:
Denaturation is the alteration of a protein's three-dimensional structure, caused by treatments with heat, enzymes, acid, or alkaline solutions. It results in the loss of secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures while preserving the primary structure. Various factors and conditions can cause protein denaturation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Denaturation is the alteration of a protein's three-dimensional structure, usually caused by treatments with heat, enzymes, acid, or alkaline solutions. Denaturation causes the loss of the secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures of proteins while maintaining the primary structure almost intact. Various reagents and conditions such as heat, organic compounds, pH changes, and heavy metal ions can lead to protein denaturation.