The transfer of the energy of high-LET radiation to such molecules can break chemical bonds and ionize various cellular components.
However, large deviations from the triple helical conformation can occur over a longer time scale, such as formation and breakage of β-sheets mentioned above, and water molecules can break in and out between α chains in the locally unfolded labile domain.
For example, damaged or waste molecules are transported within a cell to structures that can break the molecules down, while nerve impulses are transmitted from one neuron to the next via the release of signaling molecules.
So if we zoom down, as small as we can go, we can break down molecules into atoms, and atoms into subatomic particles.
Cohesin has two active sites that can break down molecules of ATP.
(One reason was that Mendel's gene was supposed to be indivisible, whereas the DNA molecule can be broken at any point along its length, and in fact molecular genetics assumes that such breaking takes place).
Fresh oil begins to deteriorate as soon as it's exposed to light, heat, oxygen or moisture, all of which can break intact oil molecules into fragments.
Fungi can exude whole sets of enzymes that can break down complex molecules.
Yeast cells have a large organelle called a vacuole; the inside of the vacuole is acidic and contains enzymes that can break down other molecules.
The molecules, now excited after being heated, can break out of the membranes almost effortlessly.
