IGCSE CIE Double Award Biology - B4 Enzymes

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1. Define enzymes Proteins that function as biological catalysts

2. Explain enzyme ac- Their action relies on their shape, as their substrate
tion with reference molecule (s) fit into their active site as in the lock & key
to the complemen- hypothesis:
tary shape of the
active site of an en-
zyme and it sub-
strate and the for-
mation of a product

3. Investigate and de- Most enzymes in our body are designed to work at a pH
scribe the effect of of 7, and a temperature of 37oC, because those are the
changes in temper- conditions in most parts of our body, and our enzymes
ature and pH on en- are well adapted to function inside us.
zyme activity The temperature an enzyme works best at is its 'opti-
mum temperature'.
The pH it works best at is its 'optimum pH'.
One exception is pepsin. This enzyme is present in our
stomach, and functions best in our stomach's acidic
(HCl) conditions - pH2.
The general rule goes: The lower the temperature (when
lower than optimum temperature), the slower the en-
zyme works; the higher the temperature (after optimum
temperature), the less the enzyme works.
The lower the pH (when lower than optimum), the less
the enzyme function; the higher the pH (when higher
than optimum), the less the enzyme works.

4. Explain the effect As temperature increases, the chance of substrate mol-

of changes in tem- ecules and enzymes colliding also increase, so the rate
perature on enzyme of reaction goes up.

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 IGCSE CIE Double Award Biology - B4 Enzymes
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activity, in terms This continues to an optimum (best) temperature for an
of kinetic energy, enzyme. For most human enzymes the optimum temper-
shape and fit, fre- ature is 37'C (body temperature).
quency of effective Above the temperature, the bonds holding the enzyme
collisions and de- together start to break so it changes shape.
naturation This deforms the active site, so enzyme and substrate
cannot fit together - the enzyme has been denatured.
Most enzymes denature above 50'C.

5. Explain the effect of The pH of a solution is how acidic or alkaline it is.

changes in pH on Most human enzymes have an optimum pH of 7. Some
enzyme activity in exceptions:
terms of shape and -Pepsin, a protease in the stomach has an acidic opti-
fit and denaturation mum (pH 2)
-Lipase in the duodenum has an alkaline optimum (pH
9)
-Salivary amylase in the mouth prefers a slightly-acidic
pH of 6.8
Extreme of pH affect the shape of enzymes, denaturing
them.

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