When and How are Proteins

Denatured?

At Very High or Low pH.

At Very High Temperatures.

By Heavy Metal Ions.

By Small Polar Molecules.

 Denaturation at HIGH or LOW pH

Affects Ionic Bonds.

A High(>9) or Low pH (<3) will neutralise

the charge on one of the ionically bonded
ions.

Hence the ionic bond is broken.

 Denaturation by Metal Ions
Certainmetal ions will disrupt the Van der
Waals forces in proteins.

Heavy Metal Ions, such as Ag+ and Hg2+,

also inhibit enzyme activity.

They do so by reducing the SH groups in

cysteine.
PLEASE NOTE: Spelling mistake on
pictures: --- The S-S bond is a
DISULPHIDE bond.
 Denaturation by Small Polar
Molecules

Urea ( CO(NH2)2 ) in concentrated solution

will denature proteins.

It disrupts the Hydrogen Bonds.

This causes complete denaturation.

 Everyday Examples of
Denaturation
When milk curdles, the acidity increases.

Thermal denaturation by cooking.

Mechanical denaturation when whisking an

egg.

Perming hair breaks then reforms the

disulphide bonds.