The process of destruction of all protein structures.

This is denaturation. It occurs sequentially, for example, a quaternary structure, passes into a tertiary, secondary, and then, into a primary. The process of destruction from the Quaternary and subsequent structures occurs under the influence of various factors. These include high or low temperatures, radiation, acidity changes. The process can take place with subsequent reduction of the protein to its original structure, or it can be irreversible. A good example is the degradation of the protein of a chicken egg under the influence of high temperature.