Answer to Question #233766 in Biochemistry for Mary Joy Sanorjo

Question

Denaturation is usually associated with transitions from helical structures to random coils. If an imaginary process were to transform the keratin in your hair from an

Answer 1

Yes.

Denaturation of a protein involves conformational changes. It involves the breaking of many of the weak linkages, or bonds such as hydrogen bonds, disulfide bonds, salt bridges etc. within a protein molecule. In an a -helix, the carbonyl of one amino acid is hydrogen bonded to the amino H (N-H) of an amino acid that is four down the chain and in a $\beta$ -pleated sheet, two or more segments of a polypeptide chain line up next to each other, forming a sheet like structure held together by hydrogen bonds. So when the structure of the fibrous protein is changed from $\alpha$ -helix to $\beta$ -pleated sheet structure, change in conformation, hydrogen bonding as well as in their secondary structure occurs, so the protein is said to be denatured.