A protein has been denatured with its secondary or tertiary structure has been altered. Why would a change in?

Question

A protein has been denatured with its secondary or tertiary structure has been altered. Why would a change in the secondary or tertiary structure of a protein affect its enzyme

Answer 1

A change in the tertiary structure or secondary structure of the protein changes the conformation of the active site of the enzyme (protein). Thus the enzyme cannot binds to its substrate properly and the enzyme function is affected.

Answer 2

Enzymes have something called an active site, this is (according to the lock and key theory) specific to substrates meaning that it has a specific shape suitable for binding with specific molecules. If the secondary or tertiary structure of the enzyme is affected the active site no longer complements the substrate and so can no longer form enzyme-substrate complexes, affecting the proteins abiliy as an enzyme.

Answer 3

A protein usually works because of its shape. I think part of your question got cut off, was this protein an enzyme?

If so, the lock and key model can help you to understand this. Try looking up 'lock and key' and 'enzyme' on google to see what I am talking about (or you could read your textbook).

Answer 4

the function is determined by its interaction with water at a specific temperature. this determines the secondary and teitary structure. when chemicals bond to part of it, it affects its shape, or high temperature can cause it to unravel. the amino acids which compose the binding site which interact with other molecules, are usually on comletely different parts of the amino acid chain primary stucture) but are close together when twisted and folded. so it is useless when denatured.