Which structure of protein remains intact after coagulation of egg white on boiling?
- (A)Primary✓ Correct
- (B)Tertiary
- (C)Secondary
- (D)Quaternary
Answer: (A)
Solution
Boiling denatures a protein by breaking the weak, non-covalent interactions — hydrogen bonds, ionic interactions and hydrophobic contacts — that hold its secondary, tertiary and (where present) quaternary structures together, causing the polypeptide to unfold. The primary structure, defined purely by the sequence of amino acids joined through covalent peptide bonds, is unaffected by this heat treatment and remains intact even after coagulation.
JEE Main · 2024 · 27 Jan 2024 · Shift 2 · Single correct option