The Heat-denaturation of Proteins. Part IV

Abstract

In the equivalent of hemoglobin (taken to have mass 16,660) there are 24[long dash]25 free basic groups and 16 free acidic groups. Heat-denaturation is without effect on the number of free basic groups and without detectable effect on the number of free acidic groups of the molecule. The conclusion is drawn that denaturation involves the hydrolysis of linkages of a character analogous to those involved in the hydrolysis of polysaccharides, as distinct from rupture of the polypeptide link (-CONH-). This conclusion is in agreement with earlier papers by the writer.