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Denaturation

Meaning

Denaturation is a fundamental biochemical process involving the structural alteration of biological macromolecules, such as proteins or nucleic acids, which results in the loss of their characteristic biological function. This change is not a cleavage of the primary chemical bonds but rather a disruption of the intricate secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures essential for their three-dimensional shape. Factors like extreme heat, changes in pH, or exposure to certain chemicals can induce this irreversible or sometimes reversible conformational change.