Question

If a protein usually found in a low pH is placed into a neutral pH solution, will it be functional and why?

	Yes, because the protein will be safe from acid hydrolysis
	No, because the protein needs the low pH to have optimal function
	Yes, because proteins can function in a wide range of pH levels
	No, because no protein is functional at a neutral pH

Answer 1

Acid is a proton donor and Base is a proton acceptor. Therefore either way, if the pH of the protein is low or the pH of the protein is high, there will be structural differences in the protein. Change in pH alters the hydrogen bonding of the proteins, which in a way alters the structure of it. The point where the protein has no net charge is called the isoelectric point of the protein. The isoelectric point is denoted by pI. Proteins are composed of a group of amino acids. These amino acids have a charge in themselves and they together determine what will be the state of the protein.

In the given question it is said that a protein that is found in low pH is placed in a neutral pH solution. This means that the protein was in a state where the hydrogen concentration was high. From there, the protein is transferred in a solution with ph 7 where the protein is supposed to be in a zwitterion format. The correct option is the second one. As the protein was initially in a low pH solution, it performs best in low pH. Low pH is it's optimum and each protein has a small pH range in which its functionality is optimum,