MadSci Network: Biochemistry
Query:

Subject: Are more complex enzymes more likely to be denatured by heat?

Date: Wed Dec 1 14:13:13 1999
Posted by Yelena
Grade level: 10-12 School: No school entered.
City: No city entered. State/Province: No state entered. Country: No country entered.
Area of science: Biochemistry
ID: 944079193.Bc
Message:

I know that some enzymes can withstand higher temperatures than others, 
and that some can return to their proper shape once their surroundings 
have cooled down. I would like to know if larger, more complex enzymes are 
more susceptible to heat than less complex ones, and is it more difficult 
for them to come back to their proper shape? Enzymes are fairly convoluted 
molecules, and I would think that smaller ones, since they are less 
convoluted than most, would be better able to correctly arrange themselves 
after being denatured. I also read that a few enzymes can even survive 
boiling. Are these some of the smallest, or does size matter?


Re: Are more complex enzymes more likely to be denatured by heat?

Current Queue | Current Queue for Biochemistry | Biochemistry archives

Try the links in the MadSci Library for more information on Biochemistry.



MadSci Home | Information | Search | Random Knowledge Generator | MadSci Archives | Mad Library | MAD Labs | MAD FAQs | Ask a ? | Join Us! | Help Support MadSci


MadSci Network, webadmin@www.madsci.org
© 1995-1999. All rights reserved.