B3.5 - Factors Affecting Enzyme Action (Finished) Flashcards
What is enzyme activity affected by?
Temperature and PH
What temperature do most human enzymes work best at?
37 degrees C
Why is it dangerous when your temperature goes up when you are ill?
When your temperature reaches about 41 degrees enzymes become denatured. Without enzymes reactions in your body can’t happen fast enough to keep you alive
How does the protein structure of an enzyme change at high temperature?
The long amino acid chains begin to unravel so the active site changes shape
What does a change in active site shape mean and what is this called?
Called denaturing
The substrate can no longer fit in the active site so the enzyme will not work
How does pH change enzyme shape?
The forces holding the different parts of the protein molecules are affected by pH, changing the shape of a molecule and therefore the active site of an enzyme
Why do higher temperatures speed up enzyme reactions?
The enzymes and molecules/substrates have more kinetic energy so collide more often
