Structure and functions in living organisms Flashcards
What role do enzymes play in metabolic reactions?
-biological catalysts that speed up the rate of metabolic reactions (like digestion) by allowing substrates to bind to their active sites, breaking them down into products.
What is the function of an enzyme’s active site?
-where substrates bind, allowing the enzyme to catalyse the reaction and produce products.
What is the function of amylase/maltase?
Breaks down starch —> glucose
What is the function of protease?
Breaks down proteins —> amino acids
What is the function of lipase?
Breaks down lipids —> fatty acids & glycerol
What happens to enzyme activity as temperature increases towards the optimum?
The rate of enzyme activity increases.
Why does enzyme activity increase with rising temperature?
-Enzymes & substrates gain kinetic energy, moving & vibrating faster
-Leading to more frequent successful enzyme-substrate collisions.
How does increased kinetic energy affect enzyme-substrate interactions?
It allows more frequent successful collisions, increasing the rate at which substrates are broken down.
What happens to enzymes when temperatures exceed the optimum?
Enzymes denature
Why do enzymes denature at high temperatures?
-High temperatures cause bonds within the enzyme to vibrate more
-Increasing the chance of bond breakage.
How does bond breakage affect an enzyme’s active site?
-It changes the shape and structure of the active site
-Preventing the substrate from binding properly.
What is the consequence of enzyme denaturation for metabolic reactions?
Metabolic reactions cannot take place because the enzyme loses its function.
What is the optimum pH for most enzymes?
The optimum pH for most enzymes is 7.
What is the optimum pH for enzymes found in the stomach?
Around pH 2, as stomach enzymes work in acidic conditions.
What is the optimum pH for enzymes found in the duodenum?
Around pH 8 or 9, since these enzymes work in alkaline conditions.
What happens if the pH is too high or too low for an enzyme?
-The bonds holding the amino acid chain together may be disrupted or destroyed.
-Changing the shape of the active site, so the substrate can no longer fit into it
-Reducing the rate of activity
How does pH affect the shape of an enzyme’s active site?
If the pH moves too far from the optimum, the active site’s shape changes, preventing the substrate from fitting.
What happens to enzyme activity if the substrate can no longer fit the active site?
The rate of enzyme activity decreases.
What occurs if the pH shifts too far from the enzyme’s optimum?
The enzyme denatures and activity stops.
How does the pH graph for enzymes in the duodenum typically look?
It shows a peak around pH 8 or 9, with activity dropping at lower or higher pH levels.
What effect does optimal pH have on enzyme-substrate collisions?
-More frequent successful collisions occur between enzymes and substrates.
-This increases the rate of substrate breakdown and enzyme activity.
Design an experiment investigating how enzyme activity can be affected by changes in temperature
C - Changing the temperature in each repeat
O - Not relevant, no organisms
R - Repeat experiment several times to ensure reliable results
M1 - Measure the time taken
M2 - for the iodine to stop turning black
S - Same concentration and volume of starch solution, iodine and amylase used in the investigation
Explain the results of investigating the effect of temperature on enzyme activity
-Amylase is an enzyme which breaks down starch
-The quicker the reaction is completed, the faster the enzyme is working
-Optimum temperature- the iodine stopped turning blue-black the fastest (because the enzyme is working at its fastest rate and has digested all the starch)
-Colder temperatures (below optimum), the iodine took a longer time to stop turning blue-black
(because the amylase enzyme is working slowly due to low kinetic energy and few collisions between the amylase and the starch)
-Hotter temperatures (above optimum) the iodine turned blue-black throughout the whole investigation (because the amylase enzyme has become denatured and so can no longer bind with the starch or break it down)
What is the method for investigating how enzyme activity can be affected by changes in temperature?
1.Add 5cm3 starch solution to a test tube & heat to a set temperature using beaker of water with a Bunsen burner
2.Add a drop of Iodine to each of the wells of a spotting tile
3.Use a syringe to add 2cm3 amylase to the starch solution & mix well
4.Every minute, transfer a droplet of solution to a new well of iodine solution (which should turn blue-black)
5.Repeat this transfer process until the iodine solution stops turning blue-black (this means the amylase has broken down all the starch)
6.Record the time taken for the reaction to be completed
7.Repeat the investigation for a range of temperatures (from 20°C to 60°C)
What is the method for investigating the effect on temperature on diffusion in beetroot? (investigating diffusion using living and non-living systems)
1.Using a knife, cut 2 equally-sized cubes of beetroot (or a cork borer)
2.Rinse the beetroot pieces
-To remove any pigment released during cutting
3.Put 5 cm3 of water into 2 test tubes labelled A and B
4.Keep test tube A at room temperature and transfer test tube B to a hot water bath at 90℃
5.Leave the test tubes for 2 minutes, then add a piece of beetroot into each test tube
6.After 10 minutes, observe the colour of the liquid in both test tubes
Design an experiment investigating diffusion using living and non-living systems
C - Changing the temperature of the environment
O - Cubes taken from same beetroot or beetroot of the same age
R - Repeat experiment several times to ensure reliable results
M1 - Observe the colour change of the liquid
M2 - after 10 minutes
S - Same volume of water used
Same dimensions of beetroot cubes
Each cube must be blotted before it is weighed each time
What are the results for investigating the effect of temperature on diffusion in beetroot?
-The higher temperature, more of the pigment has leaked out of the beetroot
-The cell membrane of the beetroot cells has become damaged so more pigment can leak out
-At higher temperatures, particles have more kinetic energy, this results in the faster movement of particles compared to when they have less energy
What are the limitations for investigating the effect of temperature on diffusion in beetroot?
-Beetroot size and shape variation affects tissue quantity.
Solution: Precisely cut beetroot, repeat for accuracy.
-Beetroot pigment concentrations vary.
Solution: Repeat with different beetroot parts, calculate mean.
-Testing a wider temperature range enhances reliability.
Solution: Use 5 test tubes at various temperatures.
-Subjective color observation complicates comparison.
Solution: Employ a colorimeter for objective measurement.
What is the method for investigating osmosis in cells?
1.Prepare a range of sucrose (sugar) solutions ranging from 0 Mol/dm3 (distilled water) to 1 mol/dm3
2.Set up 6 labelled test tubes with 10cm3 of each of the sucrose solutions
3.Using the knife, cork borer and ruler, cut 6 equally-sized cylinders of potato
4.Blot each one with a paper towel and weigh on the balance
5.Put 1 piece into each concentration of sucrose solution
6.After 4 hours, remove them, blot with paper towels and reweigh them
What are the limitations of investigating osmosis in cells?
-Variations in potato cylinder sizes may compromise result reliability.
Solution: Repeat the investigation with multiple potato cylinders for each sucrose concentration. This helps identify and discard any anomalous results when calculating the mean.
Design an experiment investigating osmosis in cells (potato cells)
C - Changing the concentration of sucrose solution
O - Potato cylinders taken from the same potato or potatoes of the same age
R - Repeat experiment several times to ensure reliable results
M1 - Measure the change in mass of the potato cylinders
M2 - after 4 hours
S - sucrose used
Same dimensions of potato cylinders
Each cube must be blotted before it is weighed each time
What are the results for investigating osmosis in potato cells?
-Potato in distilled water gains most mass due to high water potential gradient from water to cells.
-Water moves into potato cells via osmosis, increasing turgor pressure and making them turgid, resulting in firm potato cylinders.
-Highest sucrose concentration causes most mass loss in potato due to greater concentration gradient: potato cells (higher water potential) to sucrose solution (lower water potential).
-Water moves out via osmosis, making cells flaccid, causing cylinder to feel floppy.
-Cells from this potato cylinder might show plasmolysis under the microscope, indicating the cell membrane has pulled away from the cell wall.
Diffusion
The movement of particles from a high to low concentration.
Active transport
The movement of particles from a low to high concentration.
Osmosis
The movement of water from an area of high water potential (high water concentration) to an area of low water potential (low water concentration) across a partially permeable membrane.
How does concentration gradient affect the rate of movement of substances into and out of the cells?
-As concentration gradient increases, the rate of movement of substances into and out of cells will increase
-because a stronger concentration gradient is present, hence increasing the rate of movement of substance
How does surface area to volume ratio affect the rate of movement of substances into and out of the cells?
-As the surface area to volume ratio (SA:V) increases, the rate of movement of substances into and out of cells will increase
-because there is a larger surface area in which substances can move through, (hence increasing the rate of movement of substance)
How does temperature affect the rate of movement of substances into and out of the cells?
As temperature increases, the rate of movement of substances into and out of cells will increase
-because particles gain more kinetic energy and so will move faster (hence increasing the rate of movement of substance)
How does distance affect the rate of movement of substances into and out of the cells?
-The smaller the distance molecules have to travel, the faster the transport will occur.
-This is why blood capillaries and alveoli have walls that are one cell thick.
-Thinner walls ensure the rate of diffusion is as fast as possible.
Organelles
A component within a cell that carries out a specific task
Cells
Basic functional and structural units in a living organism
Tissues
A group of cells of similar structure working together to perform a particular function
Organs
Made from a group of different tissues working together to perform a particular function
Organ systems
Made from a group of organs with related functions, working together to perform body functions within the organism
What is the order of levels of organisation?
Organelles, cells, tissues, organs, organ systems
Nucleus
-Controls the activity of the cell (by making proteins)
-Contains the chromosomes - strands of DNA which carry the genes (each gene codes for a protein)
Cell membrane
-Boundary between the cytoplasm and the cell’s surroundings
-Controls what
substances enter and leave the cell (selectively permeable)
Cytoplasm
-Jelly-like liquid where chemical reactions occur
Mitochondria
-Carries out some reactions of aerobic respiration, producing ATP (energy
carrier molecule)
Ribosomes
-Synthesise (assemble) proteins from amino acids
Chloroplasts
ALE,AUITCOCROP/S,MBMFPC
-Absorb light energy and use it to carry out the chemical reactions of photosynthesis, making biological molecules for plant cells