Hi Chegg Can somebody please help me answer this problem Ple

Hi Chegg,

Can somebody please help me answer this problem? Please clearly state the answer. Thank you.

The figure showing secondary structure in this lecture highlights the importance of hydrogen bonds in establishing the natural shape of proteins. Apply your understanding of hydrogen bonds and pH (the amount of H+ ions in the environment) to describe how lowering the pH in a solution could denature a protein.

Solution

Any ph above or below the physiological ph will disrupt the secondary structure of proteins thus causing its denaturation.

When the ph is lowered, the amount of H+ ions will increase which causes the protonation or the polarisation of the side chains leading to breakage of salt bridges.

There is not always denaturation of proteins at low ph. Some proteins such as peptide proteins even maintain their secondary structure at ph as low as 0.5 but yes they do unfold themselves.

There is a backbone protection. Secondary structures are favoured by excluded volume effects and conformational freedom