Professor Theresa Sterner
Bio Lab 105
04 November 2013
The Effects Environmental Temperature and pH have on the Activity of Porcine Pancreatic Amylase
Introduction
There are many types of enzymes and each has a specific job. Enzymes are particular types of proteins that help to speed up some reactions, such as reactants going to products. One of them is the amylase enzyme. Amylases are found in saliva, and pancreatic secretions of the small intestine. The function of amylase is to break down big molecules of starch into small molecules like glucose; this process is called hydrolysis. Enzymes are very specific; for example, amylase is the only enzyme that will break down starch. It is similar to the theory of the lock and the key. The enzyme is the lock and the key is the substrate; only the correct key could fit into the keyhole of the lock. Porcine pancreatic amylase is
????
The purpose of this lab experiment is to investigate factors that can affect the porcine pancreatic amylase enzyme activity in different environments such as the temperature, pH and also how being stored in extreme temperatures can affect the activity of the amylase. The activity of the amylase is going to be determined by the presence or absence of starch in the samples over time. There are some hypotheses on the Effects of temperature and pH; as I add the amylase to the starch in different temperatures the reaction’s rate increases in high temperatures; I belive that the amylase will work better. As the environment grows warmer, the amylase is going to become more energetic and more effective. Amylase is affected by environmental pH. I predict that the amylase activity will work best at a pH 7. As the pH changes from this point I predicted that the amylase activity is going to decrease and eventually stop. If I boiled and froze some amylase solution, and try to digest starch with at it at room temperature, I predict the previously-boiled and frozen amylase will not
Cited: Campbell, Neil A., Jane B. Reese, Martha R. Taylor, Eric J. Simon. Biology 105 Taken From; Biology: Concepts & Connections (Fifth Edition) Benjamin Cumming, San Francisco, CA, 2013. DeAngelo, Eric, fundamentals of biology laboratory manual, LCCC,2013, Chapter 5 Cell The Effects Environmental Temperature and pH have on the Activity of Porcine Pancreatic Amylase.