Multiple Choice
When a protein is denatured, which of the following best describes what happens to its structure?
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4. Protein Structure
Denaturation
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Which of the following best describes the process of denaturation in proteins?
A
The hydrolysis of peptide bonds resulting in the breakdown of a protein into its amino acids.
B
The synthesis of a protein from amino acids via ribosomal translation.
C
The addition of phosphate groups to a protein, altering its function.
D
The disruption of a protein's secondary, tertiary, or quaternary structure without breaking peptide bonds.
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the concept of protein denaturation: Denaturation refers to the loss of a protein's native structure (secondary, tertiary, or quaternary) due to external factors such as heat, pH changes, or chemical agents, without breaking the peptide bonds that form the primary structure.
Clarify the difference between denaturation and hydrolysis: Hydrolysis involves breaking peptide bonds, which results in the breakdown of a protein into its individual amino acids. Denaturation does not involve breaking these bonds but rather disrupts the higher-order structures.
Distinguish denaturation from synthesis: Protein synthesis is the process of creating a protein from amino acids via ribosomal translation, which is unrelated to denaturation.
Explain why phosphorylation is not denaturation: Phosphorylation involves the addition of phosphate groups to a protein, which can alter its function but does not disrupt its overall structure in the same way denaturation does.
Conclude that denaturation specifically refers to the disruption of secondary, tertiary, or quaternary structures without breaking peptide bonds, making it distinct from the other processes described.
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