SAINT MARY’S UNIVERSITY

BAYOMBONG, NUEVA VIZCAYA 3700

SCHOOL OF HEALTH AND NATURAL SCIENCES
MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

Name: AFAN, CYTHEREA MAE A. Year and Section: BSMLS 2B 2

Code: BIOCHEMISTRY LABORATORY 5298 Instructor: MR. JUSTINE VICENTE
ACTIVITY
ENZYMES and DIGESTION

ABSTRACT
What is the relationship between living cells and their surroundings? Catalysts, or compounds that speed up chemical
reactions and processes, are found in all living things. Enzymes are molecules that allow all living creatures on the planet
to carry out chemical processes. In this catalase and hydrogen peroxide experiment, we'll see how enzymes work as catalysts
in living things, allowing chemical reactions to happen faster. We can see how enzymes like catalase execute decomposition,
or the breaking down, of other compounds using a potato and hydrogen peroxide. Catalase accelerates the breakdown of
hydrogen peroxide into oxygen and water. We'll also see how changes in the temperature of the potato or banana effect this
process.

INTRODUCTION

Cells produce special proteins known as enzymes that catalyze biological reactions by lowering the activation
energy of a reaction. The reactant broken down by an enzyme is called the substrate. The active site of an enzyme is that
portion of the molecule responsible for its catalytic action. One outstanding property of an enzyme is its high specificity—
absolutely specific (i.e., it acts only on one substrate), group specific (e.g., pepsin will hydrolyze only soluble native
proteins), linkage-specific (i.e., it breaks the bonds only between specific groups like thrombin breaking the bond between
arginine and glycine in the fibrinogen molecule), or reaction-specific (e.g., hydrolases, oxido-reductases, polymerases).

Chemically, enzymes are either simple proteins or a protein (apoenzyme) combined with a non-protein unit (cofactor). If
the cofactor is an organic unit, it is known as a coenzyme. If the cofactor is a metal-ion, it is called a metalion activator. The
two parts (protein and non-protein) constitute a holoenzyme.

The rate of enzyme activity is influenced by many factors. These factors include temperature, hydrogen ion concentration,
substrate concentration, and enzyme concentration.

Most foods are complex substances that must be broken down into smaller molecules that can be absorbed and utilized by
the cells of the body.

Digestion involves hydrolysis of proteins to amino acids, of starches to monosaccharides, and of fats to fatty acids and
glycerol. The enzymes needed are hydrolases. Digestion takes place in the mouth, the stomach, and the small intestine. The
passage of food through the digestive tract occurs as follows: mouth  esophagus  stomach  small intestine (duodenum,
jejunum, and ileum)  large intestine.

The principal digestive juices are the saliva, gastric juice from the glands in the walls of the stomach, pancreatic juices,
bile, and intestinal juice.

OBJECTIVES

• Identify the factors that affect the rate of enzyme activity; and
• Describe the role of enzymes in the digestive process.
| BIOCHEMISTRY LABORATORY
 SAINT MARY’S UNIVERSITY
BAYOMBONG, NUEVA VIZCAYA 3700
SCHOOL OF HEALTH AND NATURAL SCIENCES
MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT

• 1-piece ripe banana (1-piece potato can be utilized in the absence of banana)
• Knife
• Ice
• Test tubes or sample containers
• Acetic acid (vinegar)
• Water
• Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)

PROCEDURES

1. Cut 1-piece of banana into roughly equal size of chunks to be used for the preceding three procedures.

2. EFFECT OF pH
a. Label two test tubes as 1 and 2.
b. Put a chunk of banana to each test tube.
c. To test tube 1, put 1 mL of H2O.
d. To test tube 2, put 1 mL of acetic acid (vinegar).
e. Add 1 mL of H2O2 to each test tube.
f. Observe and record your results.

3. EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE
a. Label three test tubes as 1, 2, and 3.
b. Put a chunk of banana to each test tube.
c. To test tube 1, add 1 mL of tap water (approximately at room temperature).
d. To test tube 2, add 1 mL of cold water. Put the test tube on a container with ice for 5 minutes.
e. To test tube 3, add 1 mL of boiling water. Put the test tube on a container with boiling water for 5 minutes.
f. Add 1 mL of H2O2 to each test tube.
g. Observe and record your results.

4. EFFECT OF SUBSTRATE CONCENTRATION

a. Label three test tubes as 1, 2, and 3.
b. Put a chunk of banana to each test tube.
c. To test tube 2, add 1 mL of H2O.
d. To test tube 3, add 2 mL of H2O.
e. Add H2O2 to each test tube as follows:
• Test tube 1- 1 mL
• Test tube 2- 0.5 mL
• Test tube 3- 5 drops

| BIOCHEMISTRY LABORATORY
 SAINT MARY’S UNIVERSITY
BAYOMBONG, NUEVA VIZCAYA 3700
SCHOOL OF HEALTH AND NATURAL SCIENCES
MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

f. Observe and record your results.

RESULT and DISCUSSION

Effect of pH

Container 1 (Water)
Container 2 (Vinegar)

Both creates a white bubbles of

foam but H2O creates more
foam than acetic acid (vinegar

Effect of temperature

Container 1 (Tap water)

Container 2 (Cold water)
Container 3 (Boiling water)

All of them creates bubbles or

foam means that the enzyme are
active. When enzymes are
active, they can operate at a
variety of temperatures, but
there are some temperatures
where they perform best.

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 SAINT MARY’S UNIVERSITY
BAYOMBONG, NUEVA VIZCAYA 3700
SCHOOL OF HEALTH AND NATURAL SCIENCES
MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

Effect of substrate concentration

There are bubbles or foam on

container 1 and the other
container has a little and almost
none.

DISCUSSION:
As the temperature rises, so does the activity of the enzyme, which speeds up the process. This also means that
when the temperature drops, so does activity. When enzymes are active, they can operate at a variety of
temperatures, but there are some temperatures where they perform best. Enzyme activity is highest at the optimal
pH, and it diminishes when the pH value rises above or falls below the optimum pH. The structure of the enzyme
is changed at highly acidic and alkaline pH levels, rendering it non-complementary to its particular substrate.
Denaturation is the term for this impact, which might be permanent and irrevocable.
The rate of enzyme activity increases as the substrate concentration rises. At the enzyme's optimal substrate
concentration, an optimum rate is obtained.

QUESTIONS

1. What is optimum pH? How would you compare the degree of digestion in the different pH levels?
- The optimal pH is the most suitable pH value - the point in which the enzyme is most active. Incredibly high or
low pH values cause most enzymes to lose their activity altogether. The pH of enzymes is also a determinant in
their stability.
- Enzymes perform best when the pH level is just right. The pH of different regions of the digestive system varies.
The purpose of separating the gut is to allow various digestive enzymes to work optimally in their natural
environment (pH).
2. What is optimum temperature? How would you compare the degree of digestion in the different temperature?
Elaborate.
- Each enzyme has a temperature range in which a maximal rate of reaction is achieved. This maximum is known
as the temperature optimum of the enzyme. The optimum temperature for most enzymes is about 98.6 degrees
Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius).
3. What is the effect of enzyme concentration and metal-ion poisons on enzyme activity? Explain briefly.
- Metal ions are required for some enzymes to catalyze their reactions. The capacity of metal ions to attract or
give electrons contributes to the catalytic process. Coordination connections bond some metals to the substrate.
Others help to keep the enzyme molecule's tertiary and quaternary structures intact. As long as there is substrate

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 SAINT MARY’S UNIVERSITY
BAYOMBONG, NUEVA VIZCAYA 3700
SCHOOL OF HEALTH AND NATURAL SCIENCES
MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

to bind to, increasing enzyme concentration will speed up the process. The process will no longer accelerate up
once all of the substrate has been bound, as there will be nothing for new enzymes to bind to.

4. Give the 5 principal digestive juices and give a short description each, one sentence will do.
i. Saliva- Saliva includes enzymes that aid in the digestion of carbs in your diet.
ii. Gastric juice- By activating digestive enzymes, which break down the complex chains of amino acids
in proteins, it plays an important role in protein digestion.
iii. Pancreatic juice- is a liquid released by the pancreas that includes trypsinogen, chymotrypsinogen,
elastase, carboxypeptidase, pancreatic lipase, nucleases, and amylase, among other digesting enzymes.
iv. Succus entericus- commonly known as intestinal juice, is a little amount of fluid released in the small
intestine. Succus entericus is an alkaline secretion made up of water, mucoproteins, and carbonate
hydrogen ions generated by glands in the duodenal wall.
v. Bile is a help to digestion. It breaks down lipids into fatty acids, which the body may absorb through
the digestive tract.
5. What are the enzymes found along the digestive system? Where are they synthesized? What triggers their synthesis
and release? Tabulate your answer. Give an accurate and short answer.
Enzyme They synthesized Triggers their synthesis
Protease Proteolytic enzymes are required When proteins that have only been
for a variety of bodily functions. partially digested in the stomach
Peptidase, proteases, and reach the small intestine,
proteinases are all terms used to proteolytic enzymes generated by
describe these enzymes. The the pancreas attack them. Inactive
pancreas and stomach create them precursors generated by the
in the human body. pancreas' acinar cells are
discharged into the small intestine,
culminating in the manufacture of
these enzymes.
Lipase The pancreas, mouth, and stomach Hydrophobic and macromolecular
all create lipase. They require food antimicrobials were responsible for
to provide the nourishment they the release. The monoolein cubic
require. Lipase enzymes are made structure is digested by the bacterial
in the pancreas and stomach, and lipase, resulting in the release. For
they aid in the digestion of fats and triggered release, non-regio specific
lipids. lipase digestion kinetics were
selected.
Amylase Amylase is a digestive enzyme that Chloride ions activate the enzyme
is mostly generated by the pancreas Amylase. When the chloride
and salivary glands, with tiny concentration in the enzymatic
quantities found in other organs. process is at its highest in the
manner described here, the greatest
activity is attained. Cholecystokinin
Stimulates Phospholipase Activity
and a Rise in [Ca2+]i An agonist-
induced increase in [Ca2+]i is
required for CCKstimulated
amylase release from pancreatic
acinar cells.

| BIOCHEMISTRY LABORATORY
 SAINT MARY’S UNIVERSITY
BAYOMBONG, NUEVA VIZCAYA 3700
SCHOOL OF HEALTH AND NATURAL SCIENCES
MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

CONCLUSION
Enzymes are proteins that assist our bodies speed up chemical processes. Enzymes are necessary for digestion, liver
function, and many other processes. The presence of too much or too little of a particular enzyme might result in health
issues. The presence of enzymes in our blood can aid healthcare practitioners in the detection of injuries and disorders.
And this activity or experiment helps us understand more about it.

DOCUMENTATION

| BIOCHEMISTRY LABORATORY
 SAINT MARY’S UNIVERSITY
BAYOMBONG, NUEVA VIZCAYA 3700
SCHOOL OF HEALTH AND NATURAL SCIENCES
MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

Sources:
https://sciencing.com/effects-temperature-enzyme-activity-biology-6049.html
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zcr74qt/revision/5
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zwxv6yc/revision/2#:~:text=Enzymes%20will%20work%20best%20if,the%20rate
%20of%20enzyme%20activity.&text=As%20the%20substrate%20concentration%20increases,the%20enzyme's%20optim
um%20substrate%20concentration.
https://www.worthington-biochem.com/introBiochem/effectspH.html
https://www.creative-enzymes.com/resource/effect-of-temperature-on-enzymatic-reaction_50.html

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