Denaturation of a protein results in the loss of its biological activity primarily by:
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Correct answer: Disrupting the secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures
Denaturation unfolds a protein by disrupting the non-covalent interactions (hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic contacts, electrostatic forces) that maintain its secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures. Because the primary sequence (peptide bonds) remains intact but the specific 3D shape is lost, the protein loses its biological activity.
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