Liver

Enzyme Lab

Purpose: How will enzyme activity be affected by manipulating independent variables?

Background Information:
In each individual cell of a human there are many chemical reactions taking place, performing the necessary
functions for being a large, complex, multicellular organism. This is relatively easy to understand. How do
these reactions occur? This is not so easy to understand. Chemical reactions involve the breaking and
reforming of chemical bonds between molecules (substrates or reactants), which are transformed into
different molecules (products). Some chemical reactions can occur spontaneously. Meaning, the chemical
reaction can occur without any added energy or intervention. While certain chemical reactions occur
spontaneously, other chemical reactions cannot and instead, involve specific metabolic pathways for the
reaction to happen.

Enzymes are biological protein catalysts. They help to increase the rate of chemical reactions. Enzymes are
most often proteins and their three-dimensional (3-D) shape is important to their catalytic activity. Because of
their 3-D shape, enzymes are highly specific for the reactions they catalyze.

Enzyme activity and effectiveness is influenced by many factors. First, enzyme activity may be negatively
affected by changes in temperature. Normally, enzymes work at a particular temperature optimum and if the
temperature is either too high or too low, the enzyme activity is reduced. Since enzymes are proteins, enzyme
activity is also affected by changes in pH (measure of acidity). If the pH changes are too drastic, enzymes can
become denatured and their activity is reduced or eliminated. Lastly, enzyme activity can be affected by
concentration. Concentration refers to how much of the enzyme is present.

In this lab, you will be conducting a series of experiments to look at how enzyme activity is affected by
changes in temperature and pH. The enzyme used in this experiment is called, catalase. Catalase is found in
many cells but is in highest levels in the liver because the liver functions to break down toxins present in the
blood. Further, catalase is responsible for breaking down hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and produces oxygen gas
and water. As the reaction occurs, bubbles form, indicating that hydrogen peroxide is being broken down in
water and oxygen gas. The more active the enzyme, the more oxygen (and water) it produces.

The specific chemical reaction that we will be studying is the decomposition of 6% hydrogen peroxide into
water and oxygen gas. The formula for the reaction is as follows:

2H2O2

Catalase

2H2O + O2

Hydrogen Peroxide Water Oxygen

PRELAB Questions: You do not have to write out the questions, BUT you do have to answer in complete
sentences.

1. What are the four macromolecules and which macromolecule are enzymes?
2. What is the function of enzymes and why are they important for our cells?
3. Write down the equation for todays lab and do the following: highlight the reactant(s) above yellow.
Highlight the product(s) in the equation above green.
4. What indication will we have that the enzyme is working (Hint: Look at the products, what would have
these together look like?)
5. What three factors will affect the enzyme activity?