Experiment IV: Effect of pH on the Rate of Enzyme Reaction
4. What happened to the activity of the enzyme at pHs other than the optimal?
Answer: The enzyme activity is reduced at pH other than its optimum pH.
Explanation:
pH of the reaction medium is one of the major determinants of enzyme activity. The pH at which an enzyme shows maximum activity is known as the optimum pH. Extremely low or high pH values result in complete loss of enzyme function.
Proteins are polymers of amino acids linked together by peptide bonds. Many amino acids contain ionizable side chains. The charge of an amino acid side chain is determined by the surrounding pH. The overall charge on the protein ultimately affects its shape as well as its function.
Some enzymes are functional at neutral pH. Ex: Catalase = 7.0
Some enzymes are functional at acidic pH. Ex: Pepsin = 1.5
Some enzymes are functional at basic pH. Ex: Pancreatic lipase = 8.0
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