Question

Variations in temperature and pH can cause major changes to a protein. Explain how.

Answer 1

Answer:

Variations in temperature and pH can cause major changes to a protein:

Effect of variation in temperature:

• Proteins are sensitive to changes in external conditions such as temperature. High temperatures can have following effect on protein:
  • Variations in temperature can break hydrogen bonds, disrupt hydrophobic interaction, denature protein and change the three dimensional conformation of protein molecules. This bond disruption occurs due to increase in kinetic energy of the molecules when subjected to high temperature.
  • Variations in temperature can adversely affect protein stability, folding, activity and functionality.

Effect of variations in pH:

• Variations in pH of a protein solution can affect hydrogen bonds and salt bridges.
• Variations in pH can change the three dimensional conformation and charge properties of protein molecules. Variations in pH can alter protein solubility and can cause protein precipitation.
• Variation in pH of protein can alter the state of ionization of acidic and basic amino acids that could in turn affect the shape and structure of a protein. Most of the enzymes have a optimal pH range and any change in the pH value can have a profound impact on the activity of the enzyme.