Aga khan education service Pakistan

South region
Digital learning mode
Biology academic year 2020-21
3.4 Factors Affecting
Enzyme Action
3.4.1 verify the effect of different factors, i.e. pH and
temperature on the rate of enzyme action using
graph

 The activity of an Enzyme is affected by its environmental

conditions.
 Any factor that can change the shape and chemistry of the
enzyme can affect its rate of catalysis.
 There are some factors that can affect the rate of reaction of an
enzyme. 

Samreen Arain Ch#3

TEMPERATURE
 Initially the rise in temperature above the optimum temperature breaks some
of the hydrogen bonds that hold the shape of the active site. This reduces the
efficiency of the enzyme and the reaction rate falls.
 If the temperature falls again the hydrogen bonds reform and the activity of
the enzyme is restored.
 If the temperature continues to rise the disulfide bonds and covalent bonds
are broken. This permanently destroys the shape of the active site and so the
catalytic activity of the enzyme is lost permanently. The rise in temperature
permanently denatures the enzyme.

Samreen Arain Ch#3

Samreen Arain Ch#3
PH
 When the pH is too acidic or too basic for an enzyme, its hydrogen bonds
begin to break resulting in the enzyme active site losing its shape. 
 Small changes in pH above or below the Optimum do not cause a permanent
change to the enzyme, since the bonds can be reformed. However, extreme
changes in pH can cause enzymes to Denature and permanently lose their
function.
 Enzymes in different locations have different Optimum pH values since
their environmental conditions may be different.

Samreen Arain Ch#3

Samreen Arain Ch#3
3.4.2 compare optimum temperature of human
body enzymes and thermophilic bacteria;

 What is optimum temperature?

 The temperature at which a procedure is best carried
out, such as the culture of a given organism or the action of an
enzyme.
 Optimum temperature of human body enzyme
 Different enzymes have different optimum temperatures.
 The enzymes in human body work best at 37˚C.

Samreen Arain Ch#3

 Thermophiles, meaning heat-loving that thrives at relatively high
temperatures, between 41 to122 °C.
 Thermophiles contain enzymes that can function at high
temperatures. Some of these enzymes  (for example, heat-
stable DNA polymerases ).

Samreen Arain Ch#3

3.4.3 compare optimum pH of different
enzymes like trypsin and pepsin
 Pepsin :
 Pepsin is an enzyme that breaks down proteins into smaller peptides.
 It is produced in the stomach and is one of the main digestive
enzymes in the digestive systems of humans.
 Pepsin is most active in acidic environments because  its primary site
of synthesis and activity is in the stomach (pH 1.5 to 2). 
 It contains mostly acidic amino acid residues in order to be stable at
extremely low pH. 
 They work best at low ph (acidic ph 1.5-2.0).
Samreen Arain Ch#3
Comparison between the ph of pepsin
and trypsin

Samreen Arain Ch#3

 Trypsin
 Trypsin  is a serine protease found in the digestive system where
it hydrolyses proteins.
 It is found in the small intestines.
 Trypsin is produced as the inactive zymogen trypsinogen in
the pancreas.
 trypsin breaks the peptide bonds on the carboxyl side of selective
amino acids such as lysine and arginine.
 The best activity of trypsin is found at ph 8.0 to 8.5 (slightly
alkaline).

Samreen Arain Ch#3