Enzymes Test for Effect of pH on Catalase Activity
College General Biology I
Enzymes, test for effect of pH on catalase activity
Purpose The main purpose of this experiment was to learn about enzymes and how to test for the effect of pH on catalase activity and to be able to tell if a reaction is an exergonic or endergonic process.
Introduction Enzymes are made from amino acids, which are made from proteins. In order to make an enzyme, hundreds of amino acids are strung together in a very specific and unique order and eventually is folded into a unique shape. That shape permits the enzyme to carry out specific chemical reactions - an enzyme acts as a precise and proficient catalyst for a specific chemical reaction. The enzyme speeds that reaction up tremendously. (http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/cellular-microscopic/cell2.htm). In an enzyme, the reactant is the substrate and this substrate must bind to the enzyme by attatching itself to an active site. When the reaction is finished the substrate will have turned into products and these products detach itself from the enzyme. Denaturation is when proteins lose their tertiary or secondary structure by application of some external stress of compound, such as a strong acid or base, a concentrated inorganic salt, an organic solvent, or heat. (http://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Denaturation_(biochemistry).html) To denature is to slow down, speed up, or stop an enzyme from completing its process. Conditions that denature proteins, or enzymes, such as pH fluctuation or extremes of temperature, will cause the enzymes active site to change shape thereby rendering the enzyme unable to function. The enzyme that was worked with was Hydrogen peroxide. Catalase, isolated from potatoes, speeds up the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide into oxygen and water.
Materials
Catalase isolated from potatoes
Wax pencil
Metric ruler
3 Test Tubes
Test tube rack
Distilled Water
HCl solution
NaOH solution pH paper
Hydrogen Peroxide
Enzymes, test for effect of pH on catalase activity
Purpose The main purpose of this experiment was to learn about enzymes and how to test for the effect of pH on catalase activity and to be able to tell if a reaction is an exergonic or endergonic process.
Introduction Enzymes are made from amino acids, which are made from proteins. In order to make an enzyme, hundreds of amino acids are strung together in a very specific and unique order and eventually is folded into a unique shape. That shape permits the enzyme to carry out specific chemical reactions - an enzyme acts as a precise and proficient catalyst for a specific chemical reaction. The enzyme speeds that reaction up tremendously. (http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/cellular-microscopic/cell2.htm). In an enzyme, the reactant is the substrate and this substrate must bind to the enzyme by attatching itself to an active site. When the reaction is finished the substrate will have turned into products and these products detach itself from the enzyme. Denaturation is when proteins lose their tertiary or secondary structure by application of some external stress of compound, such as a strong acid or base, a concentrated inorganic salt, an organic solvent, or heat. (http://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Denaturation_(biochemistry).html) To denature is to slow down, speed up, or stop an enzyme from completing its process. Conditions that denature proteins, or enzymes, such as pH fluctuation or extremes of temperature, will cause the enzymes active site to change shape thereby rendering the enzyme unable to function. The enzyme that was worked with was Hydrogen peroxide. Catalase, isolated from potatoes, speeds up the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide into oxygen and water.
Materials
Catalase isolated from potatoes
Wax pencil
Metric ruler
3 Test Tubes
Test tube rack
Distilled Water
HCl solution
NaOH solution pH paper
Hydrogen Peroxide
References: Brain, Marshall. How Cells Work. HowStuffWorks. Retrieved October 20, 2013 from http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/cellular-microscopic/cell2.htm Denaturation (biochemistry). Princeton.edu. Retrieved October 20, 2013 from http://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Denaturation_(biochemistry).html