Effect of Temperature and pH on Enzymes

• What is the effect of temperature on enzyme activity?

  Temperature affects the rate of enzyme reactions
• What is the role of enzymes in chemical reactions?

  They speed up chemical reactions
• What is the groove on an enzyme's surface called?

  Active site
• What is a substrate in relation to enzymes?

  It is the molecule that the enzyme reacts with
• What does the lock and key theory describe?

  The specific fit between enzyme and substrate
• What happens to enzyme activity as temperature increases?

  Enzyme activity increases until optimum temperature
• What is the optimum temperature for most human enzymes?

  37 degrees Celsius
• What occurs when the temperature exceeds the optimum for an enzyme?

  Enzyme activity rapidly decreases to zero
• What happens to the enzyme at high temperatures?

  The active site changes shape and denatures
• What term describes the loss of enzyme activity due to high temperature?

  Denatured
• How does pH affect enzyme activity?

  It alters the rate of the enzyme reaction
• What is the optimum pH for an enzyme?

  The pH at which enzyme activity is maximum
• What happens to enzyme activity in extreme pH conditions?

  Activity drops to zero due to denaturation
• What type of enzyme works best in acidic pH?

  Protease enzyme in the stomach
• What type of enzyme works best in alkaline pH?

  Enzyme released from the pancreas
• What are the effects of temperature and pH on enzyme activity?

  • Temperature increases enzyme activity until optimum
  • Optimum temperature for human enzymes is 37°C
  • High temperatures denature enzymes
  • pH alters enzyme activity
  • Each enzyme has a specific optimum pH
  • Extreme pH conditions denature enzymes
• How does the shape of the active site affect enzyme function?

  A specific shape allows substrate binding
• If an enzyme's active site is denatured, what happens to its function?

  It can no longer catalyze reactions