Which of the following does NOT characterize proteins?

A) They may be denatured or coagulated by heat or acidity.

B) They have both functional and structural roles in the body.

C) They appear to be the molecular carriers of coded hereditary information.

D) Their function depends on their three-dimensional shape.

The answer is C) They appear to be the molecular carriers of coded hereditary information.

Explanation:

Why NOT C) They appear to be the molecular carriers of coded hereditary information?

This is the job of the nucleic acids. It is composed of nucleotides which are the basic units of DNA and RNA. They carry genetic information about a certain organism.

True of proteins:

A) They may be denatured or coagulated by heat or acidity.

Denaturation is the destruction of the protein's secondary and/or tertiary structures. The primary structure is not disrupted due to the tough peptide bonds and can only be broken down by acid. For heat denaturation, hydrogen bonds are destroyed, as in cooking of egg whites and medical equipment sterilization.

B) They have both functional and structural roles in the body.

There are many kinds of proteins that have functional and structural roles like hormones (FSH, LH), antibodies (IgA, IgM), enzymes (lipase, amylase), for storage/transport (hemoglobin, ferritin), and locomotion (actin, troponin).

D) Their function depends on their three-dimensional shape.

Just like hemoglobin, it's quaternary structure can carry 4 molecules of iron in one go. Enzymes are shaped accordingly to fit a specific substrate (lock-and-key model)