Enzymes are biological catalysts that lower the amount of activation energy needed in carrying out biochemical reactions1. Enzymes are responsible for almost every reaction that occurs in a cell and is named according to the substrate they specifically affect. An enzyme works best under optimal conditions pertaining to temperature, pH level and salt concentration1. In unfavorable conditions enzymes will become denatured and ineffective. In human beings enzymes are most effective in 37 C temperatures, at a pH level of 7.2 (in the stomach a pH of 2 and in the small intestine a pH of 8.5)3 and with a daily …show more content…
When liver was added to hydrogen peroxide is caused and instantaneous reaction time. This is due to the enzyme catalase.
If the enzyme catalase was not present in the human body, hydrogen peroxide, which is highly toxic to cells, would attack the unsaturated fatty acid compounds in the membrane of lipids.2 This would cause substantial damage to the membrane structure. Since catalase utilizes hydrogen peroxide as both an electron acceptor and donor it oxidizes hydrogen peroxide isolating oxygen while it simultaneously reduces the second hydrogen peroxide molecule to water2. The decomposition of hydrogen peroxide by the enzyme catalase is represented in the following balanced equation:2H2O2(l) 2H2O(l) + O2(g).
Dead cells may still be studied to learn more about enzyme function because as seen in the liver despite the fact that the cells are dead, the enzymes remain intact and active for several weeks, as long as the tissue is kept