What can cause an enzyme to become denatured?
1 Answer
Denaturation is a process in which enzymes lose their conformational structure.
Explanation:
Enzymes are proteins folded into a particular shape to function. Shape is essential to the enzymes as the substrate needs to bind to the active sites .
H bonds ( hydrogen bonds ) play a big part in protein folding . But H bonds are weak bonds that are easily altered by changes in pH and temperatures.
Denaturation involves the breaking of many of the weak H bonds within the protein molecules that are responsible for the highly ordered structure of the enzyme in its native state.
The enzyme activity is high at optimal temperature ( around 37*C ) , in humans. As the temperature rises, the rate of reaction falls rapidly as the heat denatures the enzyme.
The optimal pH for an enzyme depends on where it normally works. Intestinal enzymes have optimum pH of 7.5 , where as those in stomach have an optimal pH of 2. Changes in the pH alter the shape of the enzyme.
