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Which one/s of the below can cause protein denaturation?

I. UV radiation,
II. Treatment with organic solvents,
III. High temperature
A) I only
B) II only
C) III only
D) I, II, and III

User Bdumitriu
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1 Answer

5 votes

Final answer:

UV radiation, treatment with organic solvents, and high temperature can all cause protein denaturation by disrupting the chemical bonds that maintain a protein's structure, leading to the correct answer being D) I, II, and III.

Step-by-step explanation:

Protein denaturation is the process by which proteins lose their tertiary structure and secondary structure while maintaining their primary structure, which can be caused by various external factors. The options provided are all known factors that can lead to protein denaturation.

  • UV radiation can cause damage to the chemical bonds within proteins, particularly the bonds that maintain the protein's three-dimensional structure.
  • Treatment with organic solvents can disrupt the hydrogen and ionic bonds holding the protein in its natural conformation, therefore denaturing it.
  • High temperature increases the kinetic energy of the molecules, causing the bonds that stabilize the protein's structure to break, leading to denaturation.

Therefore, the correct answer to the question which asks which one/s of the below can cause protein denaturation - I. UV radiation, II. Treatment with organic solvents, III. High temperature - is D) I, II, and III.

User Yash Soni
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