Final answer:
Denaturation is the process by which a protein loses its functional three-dimensional structure due to factors like heat or pH changes, but the primary structure remains unchanged. It can be reversible or irreversible, affecting the protein's ability to perform its biological function. Digestion in the stomach is a natural instance of protein denaturation followed by protein hydrolysis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Denaturation refers to the process by which a protein's highly organized structure, essential for its function, is altered, making the protein incapable of performing its biological role. Denaturation can occur due to various factors such as heat, exposure to organic compounds, pH changes, or interaction with heavy metal ions. This alteration affects the protein's secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures but generally leaves the primary structure intact. The change in the three-dimensional structure can lead to the protein losing its functional shape, though often this process is reversible if the denaturing agent is removed. However, there are cases where denaturation is irreversible, such as when an egg white cooks and solidifies.
An example of natural protein denaturation is the digestion of proteins in the stomach, where they are exposed to an acidic environment that denatures them allowing digestive enzymes to break the proteins down further through protein hydrolysis. Even so, these same digestive enzymes are adapted to function efficiently in the acidic conditions.