Answer to Question #284895 in Cell Biology for Isa

Question

Changing the shape of a protein is also known as a change in its ___________.

Answer 1

Changing the shape of a protein is also known as a change in its conformation.

Explanation:

In biochemistry, a change in conformation (i.e. conformational change) is a change in the shape of a macromolecule, such as protein. They are often induced by environmental factors.

The process in which proteins lose their shape and, therefore, their function because of changes in pH or temperature is called Denaturation.

Although the amino acids sequence which is also known as the protein's primary structure does not change, the protein's shape may change so much that it becomes dysfunctional.