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.
-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)