Native state

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In biochemistry, the native state of a protein or nucleic acid is its properly folded and/or assembled form, which is operative and functional.^[1] The native state of a biomolecule may possess all four levels of biomolecular structure, with the secondary through quaternary structure being formed from weak interactions along the covalently-bonded backbone. This is in contrast to the denatured state, in which these weak interactions are disrupted, leading to the loss of these forms of structure and retaining only the biomolecule's primary structure.

Biochemistry

Proteins

While all protein molecules begin as simple unbranched chains of

Learning how native state proteins can be manufactured is important, as attempts to create proteins from scratch have resulted in molten globules and not true native state products. Therefore, an understanding of the native state is crucial in protein engineering.

Nucleic acids

Nucleic acids attain their native state through