Investigating the Optimum pH Bacterial and Mammalian Amylase Digests Starch Solution

Investigating the Optimum pH Bacterial and Mammalian Amylase Digests Starch Solution

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Biology

Coursework

Monique Noel 12T

Finding the Optimum pH Bacterial and Mammalian

Amylase Digests Starch Solution.

Introduction

I am investigating the optimum pH bacterial and mammalian amylase

digests starch solution. To do this I will conduct an experiment using

bacterial and mammalian amylase, subjecting them to varying pH levels

and record at which pH level the enzyme digests starch solution most

efficiently.

My hypothesis: I predict that mammalian amylase will have an optimum

pH that is more neutral then bacterial amylase which I think will have

a more acidic optimum pH.

[IMAGE]Background Theory for this experiment: An enzyme is described

as a biological catalyse. This means that its helps all of the

reactions in the body by speeding them up and helping them react with

there particular substrate to form a reaction. In the case of my

experiment the substrate is starch, a polysaccharide which is broken

down by an enzyme called amylase into maltose a disaccharide. Amylase

is an enzyme found in various places in the body including the saliva

and pancreas.

An enzyme is a large globular protein which has a small area on it

called an active site. This active site is made by a few of the amino

acids on the surface of the molecule folding inwards to make a

specific indentation. This indentation is a specific shape in which a

specific complementary shape can fit. When the enzyme and substrate

join they form an enzyme-substrate complex. This formation makes it

possible for substrate molecules to be brought together to form a

product.

[IMAGE]They are three main factors that determine the most effective

way an enzyme works those are temperature, substrate concentration and

pH. In the case of this particular experiment each enzyme has an

optimum pH level at which it works best at. When an enzyme is

subjected to extreme changes in pH it can alter the shape of the