| denaturation | Reversible or irreversible loss of function in proteins and nucleic acids resulting from loss of higher order secondary, tertiary or quaternary structure) produced by nonphysiological conditions of pH, temperature, salt or organic solvents. (18 Nov 1997) |
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| denaturation temperature of DNA | That temperature at which, under a given set of conditions, double-stranded DNA is changed (50%) to single-stranded DNA; under standard conditions, the base composition of the DNA can be estimated from the denaturation temperature, since the greater the denaturation temperature, the greater the guanine-plus-cytosine content (i.e., GC content) of the DNA. Synonym: melting temperature of DNA. (05 Mar 2000) |
| alkali denaturation test | A test for haemoglobin F (Hb F), based on the fact that haemoglobins, with the exception of Hb F, are denatured by alkali to alkaline haematin; the test is sensitive to 2% or more Hb F. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| nucleic acid denaturation | Disorganization of secondary structures of nucleic acids through cleavage of hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic linkages. Denatured DNA appears to be a single-stranded flexible structure. The effects of denaturation on RNA are similar though less pronounced and largely reversible. (12 Dec 1998) |