Nachum S. answered • 08/09/21
6 years experienced Teacher of Biochemistry
Thermolabile proteins are destroyed or degraded by heat. The hydrogen bonds from secondary structure of proteins are broken down and the proteins are rendered nonfunctional. This process is called denaturation. Most proteins are thermolabile.
Thermoplastic proteins are rendered pliable and movable by the heat. Thermoplastic is usually used to describe not individual proteins but larger polymers in an industrial materials setting. Nylon is a great example of this. Heat makes it flexible rather than breaking it. (really good news if you're using a parachute!)
These are in contrast to thermostable proteins. These proteins have developed a resistance to heat.
A great example of this would be taq polymerase - a DNA synthesizing enzyme used in PCR. In PCR - heat breaks down the hydrogen bonds of DNA, giving taq polymerase the opportunity to synthesize new strands of DNA.
