what is meant by compromise in the following context, does it mean to hinder?

The heat shock response offers another example of the genetic control of cell activity.
Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are produced by all organisms when they are stressed by heat and other factors that compromise their biological activities.

1 hour ago, noha said:

what is meant by compromise in the following context, does it mean to hinder?

The heat shock response offers another example of the genetic control of cell activity.
Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are produced by all organisms when they are stressed by heat and other factors that compromise their biological activities.

One meaning of the verb "compromise" is to risk impairing.

Thank you

Heat denatures proteins i.e. it disrupts their structure which as you know means proteins lose their function. HSP's, probably by binding to proteins, make them, in a sense, heat-resistant.

Que sais-je?