BY1.

5 Industrial use of enzymes

Information
Completed
in class?
Revised for
EUT?
Final
check?
1 Biosensors work because enzymes are specific so they select one type of substrate molecule from a mixture

2
When the mixture is passed over the enzyme a reaction occurs with the specific substrate. Enzyme-substrate (ES) complexes are
formed and products are then released. The energy released is proportional to the concentration of the substrate and is
converted into electrical impulses. Consequently an accurate digital display of concentration is produced e.g. glucose oxidase
electrode detects glucose in blood

3 An enzyme can detect the presence of its substrate even in very low concentrations

4 The enzyme is immobilised so its structure is stabilised in an inert support e.g. on alginate beads or gel membrane

5
When enzymes are immobilised they have a wider optimum range of activity. This means they can be used at higher
temperatures above their optimum temperature as compared to when they are free in solution (as shown in a graph)

6 Immobilised enzymes may also be used outside their optimal pH range as they are more stable

7
Two or more enzymes may potentially be immobilised and used at the same time (as they can both be used outside their
optimum conditions)

8
Industrially an immobilised enzyme can be recovered for re-use. Therefore, a small amount of enzyme may be used to carry out
a large-scale reaction