Enzyme concentration questions:
1. How does enzyme activity vary with enzyme concentration?
2. Why was it essential to use the catalase solution from one batch as opposed to continuing on over two days or just making up more when you run out?
3. What is the function of catalase in a cell?
4. What was the purpose of the blender in making the enzyme stock solution?
1. As shown in the graph above, the rate of activity increases as the enzyme concentration is increased. In summarization, this means that the more enzymes that are available, allow for more substrates to be converted into product within a smaller amount of time. However, the substrate becomes a limiting factor and when there are no more substrates to be broken down, the reaction rate becomes constant.
2. It is essential to use fresh and consistent batches of catalase because when the solution is left for a long period of time, it is affected by external factors such as temperature, which would impact the efficiency of the enzymes. To get the most consistent and accurate results, it is best to use the same catalase kept under the same conditions.
3. Catalase is an antioxidant enzyme, which is naturally produced in most organisms, used to help break down hydrogen peroxide into oxygen and water. The break down of hydrogen peroxide helps prevent the accumulation of carbon dioxide bubbles in the blood. It is considered to have a great impact because it is capable of decomposing millions of hydrogen peroxide molecules. In addition, it uses the hydrogen peroxide to oxidize harmful toxins within organisms, such as formaldehyde, alcohol, and phenol.
4. Potato contains plant cells with cellulose, which is rigid and rough. The blender allows us to break through the cellulose that forms the cell wall which subsequently allows us to access the enzymes.