Enzyme Lab Report
Enzyme Reaction to Variable
Elizabeth Alvidrez
University of Texas at El Paso
Abstract: An enzyme is a protein that serves as a biological catalyst (Denniston, 2007). Metabolic reactions happen with in cells. Enzymes are proteins that are used to speed up these reactions without being consumed by them (Mader, 2010). Catalase is a catalyst that digests potent hydrogen peroxide and converts it into H2O and O (Campbell Reese, 2008). The environment plays an important role in the reaction that enzymes have. In this experiment, enzymes were exposed to changes in temperature, pH, and concentration.
Introduction In this experiment, the environment of the enzyme was altered, by increasing or decreasing the temperature, pH and concentration. The purpose was to observe if and how the enzyme would react to such changes. This experiment tested whether heating or cooling a catalase would increase or decrease the rate of reaction. The temperature was increased by placing the test tube in boiling water to test if the enzyme would begin to denature and break down, causing less of a reaction. The temperature was also decreased by placing the test tube in a refrigerator to test if the enzyme would slow down and the reaction would be minimal or it would cease. Altering the pH would cause denaturing of the enzymes and slow its reaction rate to almost non-existent. Increasing the concentration of catalase, you will see a correlation in the increase of the reaction.
Material • Potato • 250mL Beaker • Four 100mm test tubes • Mortar and Pestle • Refrigerator • Hydrogen Peroxide • 7.0 pH Phosphate buffer solution • Thermometer
Methods
The potato was crushed with a mortar and pestle to make a slurry (the catalase) and poured it into a 250 ml beaker. Four 100 mm test tubes (marked at every cm) were filled from the beaker with a mixture of the catalase and a 7.0 pH phosphate buffer solution to the 1 cm mark
Elizabeth Alvidrez
University of Texas at El Paso
Abstract: An enzyme is a protein that serves as a biological catalyst (Denniston, 2007). Metabolic reactions happen with in cells. Enzymes are proteins that are used to speed up these reactions without being consumed by them (Mader, 2010). Catalase is a catalyst that digests potent hydrogen peroxide and converts it into H2O and O (Campbell Reese, 2008). The environment plays an important role in the reaction that enzymes have. In this experiment, enzymes were exposed to changes in temperature, pH, and concentration.
Introduction In this experiment, the environment of the enzyme was altered, by increasing or decreasing the temperature, pH and concentration. The purpose was to observe if and how the enzyme would react to such changes. This experiment tested whether heating or cooling a catalase would increase or decrease the rate of reaction. The temperature was increased by placing the test tube in boiling water to test if the enzyme would begin to denature and break down, causing less of a reaction. The temperature was also decreased by placing the test tube in a refrigerator to test if the enzyme would slow down and the reaction would be minimal or it would cease. Altering the pH would cause denaturing of the enzymes and slow its reaction rate to almost non-existent. Increasing the concentration of catalase, you will see a correlation in the increase of the reaction.
Material • Potato • 250mL Beaker • Four 100mm test tubes • Mortar and Pestle • Refrigerator • Hydrogen Peroxide • 7.0 pH Phosphate buffer solution • Thermometer
Methods
The potato was crushed with a mortar and pestle to make a slurry (the catalase) and poured it into a 250 ml beaker. Four 100 mm test tubes (marked at every cm) were filled from the beaker with a mixture of the catalase and a 7.0 pH phosphate buffer solution to the 1 cm mark
References: Bennett, T. P., and Frieden, E.: Modern Topics in Biochemistry, pg. 43-45, Macmillan, London (1969). Campbell, N. A. (2008). Biology. San Francisco: Pearson Benjamin Cummings. Holum, J.: Elements of General and Biological Chemistry, 2nd ed., 377, Wiley, NY (1968). Mader, S. S. (2010). Laboratory Manual. New York: Mc-Graw Hill. Martinek, R.: Practical Clinical Enzymology: J. Am. Med. Tech., 31, 162 (1969). Harrow, B., and Mazur, A.: Textbook of Biochemistry, 109, Saunders, Philadelphia (1958). Pfeiffer, J.: Enzymes, the Physics and Chemistry of Life, pg 171-173, Simon and Schuster, NY (1954)