| denature | To induce structural alterations that disrupt the biological activity of a molecule. Often refers to breaking hydrogen bonds between basepairsin double-stranded nucleicacid molecules to produce in single-strandedpolynucleotides or altering the secondary and tertiary structure of a protein, destroying itsactivity. (09 Oct 1997) |
|---|---|
| denatured | 1. Made unnatural or changed from the normal in any of its characteristics; often applied to proteins or nucleic acids heated or otherwise treated to the point where tertiary structural characteristics are altered. 2. Adulterated, as by addition of methanol to ethanol. (05 Mar 2000) |
| denatured alcohol | Ethyl alcohol rendered unfit for consumption as a beverage by the addition of one or several chemicals for commercial purposes (e.g., sucrose octa-acetate). Synonym: industrial methylated spirit, methylated spirit. (05 Mar 2000) |
| denatured protein | A protein that, because ofheat or detergent application, has lost itsnative conformation. (09 Oct 1997) |