Isolated enzymes

Question 1

List five advantages of isolated enzymes over using whole organisms

Answer 1

1) Less wasteful
2) More efficient as the enzyme can be in higher concentrations
3) More specific
4) Maximise efficiency
5) Less downstream processing

Question 2

List three advantages why extracellular enzymes are more beneficial than intracellular enzymes

Answer 2

1) They’re secreted which makes them easier to use
2) Each organism produces relatively few extracellular enzymes which makes them easier to isolate
3) Extracellular enzymes are more robust than intracellular enzymes

Question 3

List five advantages of using immobilised enzymes

Answer 3

1) Can be reused which is cheaper
2) Easily separated from the reactants and products of the reaction - which is cheaper
3) More reliable as there is a greater degree of control of the microenvironment
4) Greater temperature tolerance

5) Ease of manipulation
- Immobilised glucose isomerase can be used continuously for many hours between temperatures 60-65ºC

Question 4

List four disadvantages of using immobilised enzymes

Answer 4

1) Reduced efficiency, immobilising an enzyme can reduce its activity rate
2) Higher initial costs of materials
3) Higher initial cost of bioreactor
4) More technical issues