denaturant

de·na·ture  (d-nchr)

tr.v. de·na·tured, de·na·tur·ing, de·na·tures

1. To change the nature or natural qualities of.

2. To render unfit to eat or drink without destroying usefulness in other applications, especially to add methanol to (ethyl alcohol).

3. Biochemistry

a. To cause the tertiary structure of (a protein) to unfold, as with heat, alkali, or acid, so that some of its original properties, especially its biological activity, are diminished or eliminated.

b. To cause the paired strands of (double-stranded DNA) to separate into individual single strands.

4. Physics To add nonfissionable matter to (fissionable material) so as to prevent use in an atomic weapon.

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de·natur·ant n.

de·natur·ation n.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

denaturant - any substance that serves as a denaturing agent substance - a particular kind or species of matter with uniform properties; "shigella is one of the most toxic substances known to man"