Denaturation describes physical changes in the three dimensional structure of proteins. These changes occur when the proteins are exposed to disruptive chemical or physical forces. These structural changes not only affect the physical form of the proteins but also their chemical functionality. One common example of a denatured protein is egg albumin which changes from a gelatinous liquid to a solid when heated.

Proteins are large molecules composed of amino acids which are arranged in a variety of complex structures. The primary protein structure is the simple linear sequence of amino acids within the protein. The secondary structure is determined by the configuration of certain subgroups of amino acids within the primary structure. These subgroups can be configured in three different ways depending on the type of protein. The alpha helix form can be thought of as a spiral staircase. It is found in structural proteins, such as...