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AAT Bioquest

How does enzyme denaturation affect enzyme activity?

Posted July 6, 2023


Answer

Enzyme denaturation results in loss of enzyme activity. 

Enzymes have very specific structures that enable them to perform their functions. Changes in temperature, pH or salt concentration may disrupt the bonds and interactions that hold the enzyme together and give it its specific structure. This disruption of the bonds causes the enzyme to denature, wherein it unfolds and loses its three-dimensional native conformation. When the enzyme denatures and loses its shape, it loses its ability to selectively bind to substrates, resulting in a loss of function. 

Additional resources

Conformational Stability and Denaturation Processes of Proteins Investigated by Electrophoresis under Extreme Conditions

Enzymes

Amplite® Fluorimetric Coenzyme A Quantitation Kit *Green Fluorescence*