Introduction
Catalysts speed up the rate of a reaction without being consumed in the process4. Enzymes are proteins that act as catalysts to a given biochemical reaction4. Enzymes manage to expedite metabolic reactions by lowering the activation energy required for the reaction to proceed4. In ideal conditions, the reactant macromolecule binds and acts on what is referred to as a substrate. However, enzymes require specific conditions specific conditions to perform most effectively4. Enzymes are susceptible to altering their optimal form and structure in unfavorable conditions so they are incapable of binding with the substrate4. Conditions like temperature and pH most prominently affect an enzyme’s functionality. Generally, at a temperature of 37.5 °C enzyme’s will reach its highest point of catalytic activity; although the temperature can vary depending on the organism the enzyme resides in4. While different enzymes have different optimum pH’s, an extremely high or low pH will often denature an enzyme.
Amylase is a frequently extracted enzyme from bacteria, fungi, and yeast2. Amylase has an optimal pH of 12 and temperature ranging from 75-105 °C2. In this experiment, the effects of temperature and pH on the catalytic activity of amylase were …show more content…
Percent transmittance is inverse to absorbance1. Percent transmittance will reach 100% if all light directed at a solution passes through; versus absorption which will be at zero if all light passes through. On the contrary, percent transmittance will reach zero if all light is absorbed. Thus, in relation to this experiment, a percent transmittance of 100% would indicate the enzyme has used up all of the substrate indicating a complete reaction. The time it takes for the enzyme to complete the reaction indicated by percent transmittance was recorded during the experiment, and then used to calculate enzyme activity by dividing it by
Catalysts speed up the rate of a reaction without being consumed in the process4. Enzymes are proteins that act as catalysts to a given biochemical reaction4. Enzymes manage to expedite metabolic reactions by lowering the activation energy required for the reaction to proceed4. In ideal conditions, the reactant macromolecule binds and acts on what is referred to as a substrate. However, enzymes require specific conditions specific conditions to perform most effectively4. Enzymes are susceptible to altering their optimal form and structure in unfavorable conditions so they are incapable of binding with the substrate4. Conditions like temperature and pH most prominently affect an enzyme’s functionality. Generally, at a temperature of 37.5 °C enzyme’s will reach its highest point of catalytic activity; although the temperature can vary depending on the organism the enzyme resides in4. While different enzymes have different optimum pH’s, an extremely high or low pH will often denature an enzyme.
Amylase is a frequently extracted enzyme from bacteria, fungi, and yeast2. Amylase has an optimal pH of 12 and temperature ranging from 75-105 °C2. In this experiment, the effects of temperature and pH on the catalytic activity of amylase were …show more content…
Percent transmittance is inverse to absorbance1. Percent transmittance will reach 100% if all light directed at a solution passes through; versus absorption which will be at zero if all light passes through. On the contrary, percent transmittance will reach zero if all light is absorbed. Thus, in relation to this experiment, a percent transmittance of 100% would indicate the enzyme has used up all of the substrate indicating a complete reaction. The time it takes for the enzyme to complete the reaction indicated by percent transmittance was recorded during the experiment, and then used to calculate enzyme activity by dividing it by