Enzyme Catalyzed Reactions

Introduction

In todays laboratory exercise, one of the factors that affect the enzyme activity will be examined. All enzymes are proteins. The function of enzymes are to accelerate defined chemical reactions by alternating the rate of the reaction. They will not trigger a reaction to take place that would not occur naturally. Having a particular enzyme to catalyze each of the chemical reactions that take place in a living cell, total control of metabolism can be sustained by an organism.

Catalase is an enzyme found in cellular organelles called peroxisomes. It catalyzes the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide(which is toxic to the cell)to oxygen and water

Catalase

2H2O2  O2 + 2H2O

Hydrogen Peroxide (enzyme) Oxygen Water
(substrate) (Products)

In an enzyme catalyzed reaction, the compound that the enzyme acts upon is called its substrate and the results of the reaction are called the products. Enzymes are said to be specific, that is they only at on certain substrates. In the preceding reaction, hydrogen peroxide is the substrate, catalase is the enzyme and oxygen and water are the products. If the reaction is going on, the released oxygen will cause bubbles to form. The enzyme comes out of the reaction unchanged and can be used again and again. One way of getting more product in a reaction is to add more substrate. Another way is to add more enzyme. A limit will be reached depending on the amount of substrate present. Addition of more enzyme after the substrate has been totally converted is a useless action since the enzyme is not used up in the reaction as is the substrate.

In this experiment, the optimum temperature for catalase activ...

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...hol; and to the fourth, 3ml of glucose solution.
Gently agitate each tube and note the reaction. Record the results.

EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ON ENZYMES

1. Place 3ml of solution 1 into a test tube and place it in a beaker of ice. Chill the solution to near 0ºC. While leaving the test tube in the ice, add 3 ml of H2O2 to the test tube. Note both the immediate result and as the solution begins to warm up and record the result.
Run the Same test using solution 1 at room temperature and record the result
Run the same test using solution 1 at 37ºC by placing 3ml of solution 1 in a test tube and setting it in a 37ºC water bath. Be careful that the temperature does not rise above 37ºC. Record the result.
Place 3ml of solution 1 intro a test tube. Heat it to boiling in a water bath. Allow it to cool and then add 3ml of H2O2 to the test tube. Note the result and record it.