Denature

To induce structural alterations that disrupt the biological activity of a molecule. Often refers to breaking hydrogen bonds between base pairs in double-stranded nucleic acid molecules to produce in single-stranded polynucleotides or altering the secondary and tertiary structure of a protein, destroying its activity.

To disrupt the normal in vivo conformation of a nucleic acid or (more usually) a protein by physical or chemical means, usually accompanied by the loss of activity. See: denatured DNA, denatured protein.