At What Temperature Does Protein Denature?

The melting temperature varies for different proteins, but temperatures above 41°C (105.8°F) will break the interactions in many proteins and denature them. This temperature is not that much higher than normal body temperature (37°C or 98.6°F), so this fact demonstrates how dangerous a high fever can be.

Can proteins be denatured by heat?

Most proteins are denatured by heat treatment, and the process is usually irreversible. However, some proteins, such as hyperthermophilic proteins are known to be stable even at the boiling temperature of water.

Can proteins denature in cold?

Proteins undergo both cold and heat denaturation, but often cold denaturation cannot be detected because it occurs at temperatures below water freezing. Proteins undergoing detectable cold as well as heat denaturation yield a reliable curve of protein stability.