denaturation
Structure lost permanently
Denaturation is a process that alters the structure of a protein or other biological molecule, destroying its natural properties.
Heat denatures egg whites when you cook them—the proteins unfold and solidify.
Alcohol denatures enzymes by disrupting their shape.
In chemistry, denaturation also refers to making alcohol unfit for drinking by adding toxic substances: denatured alcohol.
The word implies losing essential character while remaining chemically present.
Gradually becoming apparent
- misfoldingImproper protein conformation
- coagulationLiquid solidifying into mass
- aggregationCombined collection of items
- precipitationAtmospheric water deposit
conformation · polypeptide · chaperone · folding · albumin · casein · collagen · keratin
Preparing food with heat
- boilingLiquid vaporization temperature
- pasteurizationThermal pathogen elimination process
- sterilizationComplete elimination of microbes
- coagulationLiquid solidifying into mass
curdling · frying · poaching · scalding · thermal · temperature · irreversible · solidification
Protein that hastens reactions
- substrateUnderlying supporting material
- catalysisAccelerating reactions without consumption
- inhibitionMental check on behavior
- hydrolysisWater-induced bond cleavage
pH · acidity · solubility · bonds · electrophoresis · chromatography · spectroscopy · assay
Low-pH chemical compound
- alkaliAcid-neutralizing ionic compound
- ureaNitrogenous metabolic waste compound
- alcoholIntoxicating hydroxyl compound
- solventDissolving liquid or financially stable
detergent · SDS · oxidation · concentration · exposure · treatment · disruption · destabilization
Solid-to-liquid transition
- annealingHeat-softening of metals
- hybridizationMixing distinct genetic lines
- strandsTwisted filaments or elements
- PCRDNA amplification technique
Drinkable volatile spirit
- fuelEnergy source material
- gasolineRefined petroleum vehicle fuel
- additiveSubstance mixed in
- undrinkableUnsafe for consumption
methanol · industrial · solvent · poisonous
unfolding
Gradually becoming apparent
- misfoldingImproper protein conformation
- coagulationLiquid solidifying into mass
- aggregationCombined collection of items
precipitation · conformation · polypeptide · chaperone · folding · albumin · casein · collagen · keratin · fibrinogen
cooking
Preparing food with heat
- boilingLiquid vaporization temperature
- pasteurizationThermal pathogen elimination process
- sterilizationComplete elimination of microbes
coagulation · curdling · frying · poaching · scalding · thermal · temperature · irreversible · solidification · opacity
enzyme
Protein that hastens reactions
- substrateUnderlying supporting material
- catalysisAccelerating reactions without consumption
- inhibitionMental check on behavior
hydrolysis · pH · acidity · solubility · bonds · electrophoresis · chromatography · spectroscopy · assay · purification
acid
Low-pH chemical compound
- alkaliAcid-neutralizing ionic compound
- ureaNitrogenous metabolic waste compound
- alcoholIntoxicating hydroxyl compound
solvent · detergent · SDS · oxidation · concentration · exposure · treatment · disruption · destabilization
melting
Solid-to-liquid transition
- annealingHeat-softening of metals
- hybridizationMixing distinct genetic lines
- strandsTwisted filaments or elements
PCR · separation · probes
ethanol
Drinkable volatile spirit
undrinkable · methanol · industrial · solvent · poisonous
- decayrot, decay rate, wilt, crumble, decomposition
- Deteriorationdecay, rot, degradation, deterioration, corrosion
- Food Sciencefood science, enzymes, carbohydrates, proteins, pH
- Molecular Biologyreplication, transcription, translation, gene expression, gene regulation
- PCRPCR, amplification, Taq polymerase, primers, DNA polymerase
- protein biologyfolding, phosphorylation, degradation, proteolysis, modification
denaturationrefolding
Bending back into shape
protein folding · structural integrity · reconstitution · folding
denaturationsynthesis
Combining parts into whole
biosynthesis · reconstitution · annealing · restoration · assembly
natural, nature, naturalness, unnaturally, naturalize, naturalization, denature, naturalizing, denatured