Enzyme Lab Report

In the experiment we used Turnip, Hydrogen Peroxide, Distilled Water, and Guaiacol as my substances. On the first activity, Effect of Enzyme concentration of Reaction Rate for low enzyme concentration, we tested three concentrations of the turnip extract, and hydrogen peroxide. For the Turnip Extract I used 0.5 ml, 1.0 ml, and 2.0 ml. For hydrogen peroxide we used 0.1 ml, 0.2 ml, and 0.4 ml. We used a control to see the standard, and used a control for each enzyme concentration used. The control contains turnip extract and the color reagent, Guaiacol. We prepared my substrate tubes separately from the enzyme tubes. My substrate tube

The practical was carried out to investigate the effect of pH on the reaction of the enzyme acid phosphatase.

In this task the concentration of an unknown sample of copper sulphate using colorimetry was used to find the concentration. In this investigation copper sulphate was used which is CuSO4.5H20 as a formula. To make a standard solution which was 1M, the same clean equipment was used to make up the standard solution as used to make sodium carbonate. However there was one difference and that was that the hot distilled water was used to dissolve the copper sulphate crystals. There had to be enough hot water in order to dissolve the crystals into the beaker and then add cold distilled water to cool the solution.

The same solution of 0.5 ml BSA was then added from test tube 1 to the test tube 2 after being properly mixed, and from test tube 2 the solution was being added to test tube 3, and so forth all the way up to test tube 5, with the same exact procedure. From the last tube, we then disposed the 0.5 ml solution. After above procedures, we now labeled another test tube “blank”; 0.5 ml blank distilled water was purred into the tube with the serial dilution of 1:10. We also had a tube C labeled “unknown” with the same 0.5 ml of solution. And after adding 5ml of Coomassie Blue to each tube (1-5) and to the blank, the result of absorbance was read at 595 nm.

Put approximately 9-10(g) copper ore into beaker. Use spatula to break up any large pieces. Next add 17ml H2SO4 (aq) (hydro sulfuric acid) to the beaker. Began mixing until all or most traces of blue dissipate; or the copper ore will no longer dissolve (should appear as a milky liquid). Next use pipette to and remove solution and divide solution into 2 individual test tubes then Place test tubes into centrifuge and run centrifuge for 1 minute. Remove from centrifuge machine Fill a cuvette with the clear solution from the test tube making sure not to disturb the sediment at the bottom. Note the solution should bluish in tint Final place the cuvette in the colorimeter. Then record data and calculate in results section.

Enzymes are catalysts that function to speed up reactions; for example, the enzyme sucrose speeds up the hydrolysis of sucrose, which breaks down into glucose and fructose. They speed up reactions but are not consumed by the reaction that is taking place. The most important of the enzyme is the shape as it determines which type of reaction the enzyme speeds up. Enzymes work by passing/lowering and energy barrier and in doing so; they need to bind to substrates via the active. Once they do, the reaction speeds up so much more quickly than it would without the enzyme. Coenzymes and cofactors aid the enzyme when it comes to binding with the substrate. They change the shape of the active site so the substrate can bind properly and perform its function.

Make sure to use the same type of cuvette to keep the width consistent and to prevent any experimental error from arising. Obtain 5 of the same type of cuvettes and pre-rinse them thoroughly. Label them numbers one through five in increasing molarity. Then, fill each of the cuvettes with one of the five solutions you created back in Part A. We will first examine the solution that exhibits the highest concentration or molarity. Make sure to wipe the outside of the cuvette with a Kimwipe before placing into the SpectroVis Plus device. Observe the graph that is generated and make sure to take note where the maximum absorbance takes place.

The optimum pH level would be pH 7. This is because this is where the highest amount of enzyme activity is taking place.

Replace cuvette 2 into the foil sleeve, and place it into the incubation test tube rack. Turn on the flood light. Take and record additional readings at 5,10,and 15 minutes. Mix the cuvette's contents just prior to each readings. Remember to use cuvette 1 occasionally to check and adjust the spectrophotometer to 100% transmittance.

Where A is the initial absorbance when the experiment first starts, l is the path length of the cuvette (2.54 cm), and [CV]t is the initial concentration of crystal violet.

Apparatus: Spectrophotometer (UV-1201), cuvettes, water bath (set at 37°C), 200µl and 1000µl micropipettes and test tube

“Enzymes are proteins that have catalytic functions” [1], “that speed up or slow down reactions”[2], “indispensable to maintenance and activity of life”[1]. They are each very specific, and will only work when a particular substrate fits in their active site. An active site is “a region on the surface of an enzyme where the substrate binds, and where the reaction occurs”[2].

Organisms cannot depend solely on spontaneous reactions for the production of materials because they occur slowly and are not responsive to the organism's needs (Martineau, Dean, et al, Laboratory Manual, 43). In order to speed up the reaction process, cells use enzymes as biological catalysts. Enzymes are able to speed up the reaction through lowering activation energy. Additionally, enzymes facilitate reactions without being consumed (manual,43). Each enzyme acts on a specific molecule or set of molecules referred to as the enzyme's substrate and the results of this reaction are called products (manual 43). As a result, enzymes promote a reaction so that substrates are converted into products on a faster pace (manual 43). Most enzymes are proteins whose structure is determined by its sequence of its amino acids. Enzymes are designed to function the best under physiological conditions of PH and temperature. Any change of these variables that change the conformation of the enzyme will destroy or enhance enzyme activity(manual, 43).

Incorporation of assay controls included setting up a spectrophotomer and running the chart recorder with a full-scale deflection before the start of the assay. The set recorder had a corresponding value of 1 for the change in the absorbance. Therefore, prior testing was done to observe whether a change occurred in the readings. This helped to indicate that the results were valid, as they could have been affected by a fault during the setting up of the spectrophotometer. On the other hand this was considered as one of the controls for the experiment. Nevertheless, a new cuvette had to be used for each assay.

0.5% of copper sulphate solution was added by drop at a time and and the test tube was shaked continuously.