Biology GCSE
denaturation
What denaturation means in Biology GCSE, as defined for AQA, OCR.
Definitions of denaturation
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Reference: OCR
Above the optimum temperature, thermal agitation breaks hydrogen bonds, damaging enzyme active sites and permanently halting photosynthesis.
Above the optimum temperature, bonds holding the tertiary structure break, the active site changes shape and substrate no longer fits.
Bonds holding protein tertiary structure break, permanently altering the active site so substrate no longer binds.
What happens to the enzyme at extreme pH values, which affect the shape of the enzyme's active site.
Topics that use denaturation
- The human digestive system (AQA GCSE)
- Photosynthesis (OCR GCSE)
- What happens in cells (and what do cells need)? (OCR GCSE)
Related terms
- active site
- compound measures
- controlled variables
- Rate of reaction
- Absorption and transport
- Active site and substrate binding
- Amino acid sequence
- Amylase
Using denaturation in the exam
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