Factors Affecting Enzyme Action Flashcards
State 4 main Factors that affect enzyme action
- Temperature
- pH levels
- Enzyme concentration
- Substrate concentration
What is Denaturing?
When active site of an enzyme changes shape. Enzyme cannot perform it’s function now as it is non complementary to substrate. Denaturing is permanent.
What is the optimum
The preferred/best environment for an enzyme to perform it’s function
Describe shape of graph of enzyme action vs temperature
Assymetrical graph that gradually rises to optimum and then steeply drops
Describe enzyme action before optimum temperature
As temperature increases, so does enzyme action.
This is because kinetic energy increases, so enzymes and substrate collide more frequently, resulting in more product in a given time. Rate of reaction is increases.
Describe enzyme action at the optimum temperature
At optimum temperature there are the most number of collisions per second between enzymes and substrate. Rate of reaction is highest.
Describe enzyme action after optimum temperature
When temperature increases past optimum, enzyme action drops.
Kinetic energy is too high, causing enzymes to denature. This means active site changes shape, and so substrate is not complementary to active site. Less/no products formed. Rate of reaction decreases.
Describe how enzymes may be inactivated using temperature
By reducing temperature to extremely low points below optimum. Enzymes can be stored this way.
Describe shape of graph of enzyme action vs pH levels
Symmetrical graph that steeply drops before and after optimum
What is pH?
Measure of Acidity (presence of positive hydrogen ions) and alkalinity (presence of negative Hydroxide)
Describe enzyme action before optimum pH
For pH below optimum, enzyme denatures due to increase in H+. This breaks bonds in active site, causing enzyme to denature (change in shape of active site). Substrate is no longer complementary and so rate of reaction slows/stops.
Describe enzyme action after optimum pH
For pH above optimum, enzyme denatures due to increase in OH-. This breaks bonds in active site, causing enzyme to denature (change in shape of active site). Substrate is no longer complementary and so rate of reaction slows/stops.
Describe enzyme action during optimum pH level
Proportion of H+ and OH- is correct to maintain bonds within active site of enzyme. Active site will be complementary to substrate and rate of reaction will be high.
Describe shape of graph for Enzyme Action vs enzyme/substrate concentration
Graph rises towards Vmax, and then plateaus
What is the Vmax?
Represents highest rate of reaction, which cannot be surpassed