. What is the denaturing agent in each example below? What types of disruptions in tertiary
quaternary protein structures are observed under thelowing conditions? a. Skin is wiped with an
anti-bacterial alcohol wipe. b. Milk is warmed to 60 °C in making yogurt. c. HgCl2 is added to
vegetable seeds to reduce spoilage. d. Lactic acid is released by bacteria during chese-making e.
Heavy cream forms whipped cream in a blender
Solution
1. In this case alcohol is the denaturing agent. Denaturation is done by disrupting the side chain
intramolecular hydrogen bonding and new hydrogen bonds are formed between the new alcohol
and protein chain.
2. Heat denatures the protein in this case and denatured protein aggregates and makes opaque
mass.
3. Heavy metal i.e Hg is the denaturing agent. Heavy metal disrupts salt bridges in proteins
which leads to the formation of insoluble metal protein salt.
4. Lactic acid is the denaturing agent.
5. In this case denaturation is done by heat and radiation which increases the kinetic energy of
the atoms. It results in reducing the strength of hydrogen bonds which ultimately results in
damaging the protein structure.