Determining the Production of Glucose during Changes in Temperature and pH, and Manipulation of Specificity and Cofactors
Determining the Production of Glucose During Changes in Temperature and pH, and Manipulation of Specificity and Cofactors
BIOL-1406-SL8
November 16, 2012
Abstract
Enzymes are biological catalysts. They work by lowering the activation energy needed to initiate a chemical reaction. Enzymes work within an optimal temperature and optimal pH. Enzymes are highly specific for a single substrate. The Enzyme is usually much larger in size than the substrate it binds to. In some cases, an enzyme requires something called a cofactor to begin the chemical reaction. There were four different experiments that were executed in the enzyme lab. Experiment 7.1, the first experiment, was performed to test the effect of temperature on enzymatic activity. Based on what I know about the effect of temperature on the enzymatic activity of lactase, if the lactase used in today’s lab was extracted from human cells, I hypothesize that the optimal temperature for lactase to be in is around 37 degrees Celsius, which is the average human body temperature. The second experiment performed, experiment 7.2, tested the effect of pH on enzymatic activity. Based on what I know about the effect of pH on the enzymatic activity of lactase, if the lactase used in today’s lab was extracted from human cells, I hypothesize that the optimal pH level is 7, which is the average pH level in humans. Experiment 7.3 tests enzymatic specificity. Knowing that lactase is specific for the substrate lactose, lactase will only bind to lactose and not work with the other substrate used in this experiment, maltose. The last experiment of the lab, 7.4, was done to determine the cofactors of the enzyme, lactase. I hypothesize that EDTA, a cofactor inhibitor, will have a negative effect on the reaction and lower the amount of glucose that could possibly be produced if EDTA was not present.
Introduction
An enzyme is a protein that acts as a catalyst, a chemical agent that speeds up a reaction without being
BIOL-1406-SL8
November 16, 2012
Abstract
Enzymes are biological catalysts. They work by lowering the activation energy needed to initiate a chemical reaction. Enzymes work within an optimal temperature and optimal pH. Enzymes are highly specific for a single substrate. The Enzyme is usually much larger in size than the substrate it binds to. In some cases, an enzyme requires something called a cofactor to begin the chemical reaction. There were four different experiments that were executed in the enzyme lab. Experiment 7.1, the first experiment, was performed to test the effect of temperature on enzymatic activity. Based on what I know about the effect of temperature on the enzymatic activity of lactase, if the lactase used in today’s lab was extracted from human cells, I hypothesize that the optimal temperature for lactase to be in is around 37 degrees Celsius, which is the average human body temperature. The second experiment performed, experiment 7.2, tested the effect of pH on enzymatic activity. Based on what I know about the effect of pH on the enzymatic activity of lactase, if the lactase used in today’s lab was extracted from human cells, I hypothesize that the optimal pH level is 7, which is the average pH level in humans. Experiment 7.3 tests enzymatic specificity. Knowing that lactase is specific for the substrate lactose, lactase will only bind to lactose and not work with the other substrate used in this experiment, maltose. The last experiment of the lab, 7.4, was done to determine the cofactors of the enzyme, lactase. I hypothesize that EDTA, a cofactor inhibitor, will have a negative effect on the reaction and lower the amount of glucose that could possibly be produced if EDTA was not present.
Introduction
An enzyme is a protein that acts as a catalyst, a chemical agent that speeds up a reaction without being
Citations: Board, A.D.A.M. Editorial. "Lactose Intolerance." Lactose Intolerance. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 18 Nov. 0000. Web. 10 Nov. 2012. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001321/>. Garcia, Mark, Rebecca Orr, Donna Cain, Deborah Cardenas, Cathy Donald-Whitney, Jean Helgeson, David McCulloch, Nelson Rich, and Mary Weis. Collin College Biology 1406/1408 Lab Manual. Plano: Collin College, 2011. 76-90. Print. Reece, J. B., L. A. Urry, M. L. Cain, S. A. Wasserman, P. V. Minorsky, and R. B. Jackson. Campbell biology. 9. 1. San Francisco, CA: Benjamin Cummings, 2011. Print.