How Temperature Affects Enzyme Activity

This experiment looked at how substrate concentration can affect enzyme activity. In this case the substrate was hydrogen peroxide and the enzyme was catalase. Pieces of meat providing the catalase were added to increasing concentrations of hydrogen peroxide in order to measure the effect of hydrogen peroxide concentrations on the enzyme’s activity. The variable measured was oxygen produced, as water would be too difficult to measure with basic equipment.

The Effects of Varied Temperatures, pH Values, Enzyme Concentrations, and Substrate Concentrations on the Enzymatic Activity of Catecholase

Students will be observing normal catalase reaction, the effect of temperature on enzyme activity, and the effect of pH on enzyme activity in this experiment. The enzymes will all around perform better when exposed in room temperature than when it is exposed to hot and cold temperatures. This is based on the fact that the higher the temperature, the better the enzymes will perform, but as the temperature reaches a certain high degree, the enzymes will start to denature, or lose their function.

Hypothesis: I believe the rate of reaction will speed up as the temperature increases until it reaches about 37oC, which is the body temperature, where it will begin to slow down and stop reacting. I believe this will occur because enzymes have a temperature range at which they work best in and once the temperature goes out of this range the enzyme will stop working.

As the temperature increases, so will the rate of enzyme reaction. However, as the temperature exceeds the optimum the rate of reaction will decrease.

Introduction: Starting out with some background information, I know that enzymes are biological catalysts. The enzyme that I used for this experiment was potato juice. Enzymes make reaction rates go faster. They lower activation energy, making chemical reactions. Temperature has an effect on canola cultivars. The higher temperature decreased stem diameter, but room temperature had thicker stems. So I believe the same will happen for the catechol oxidase; the solution will react faster at room temperature. Other enzymes can also have different effects such as the enzyme in cattle serum. The enzyme lost activity in room temperature. With that being said room temperature can also be detrimental with specific enzymes. Fungus also

These results show how temperature of extreme high, or low affects enzyme activity. The highest rate of enzyme activity occurred at 37 Cº. Anything that was hotter or cold than 37 Cº slowed the reaction rate. As I thought, 100 degrees would denature the enzyme, and that was the case. The data provided shows exactly what temperatures enzymes work best, and worst. The objective was achieved as we discovered the different reaction rates under different temperatures. The results are reliable, as we know enzymes do not work well when under extreme heat or denaturation occurs. What I learned in this experiment was that enzymes don’t work well under cold temperatures because they tend to move slower. My hypothesis did not quite match, because I thought they work best at lower temperatures.

Most enzymes work best at body temperature, higher temps will cause the enzyme to no longer work properly

There were three test tubes in which the experiment was held. A relatively equal sized portion of raw potato (this contained the enzyme [a biological catalyst] hydrogen peroxidase) was placed in each tube. Then, enough water to cover the potato was added. Proceeding this, each of the test tubes were assigned a temperature; cold, room temperature or warm (this was written on the tag so that they were not confused). The test tube destinated ‘cold’ was placed in a ice bath for five minutes. At the same time, the ‘hot’ test tube was placed in a hot water bath for five minutes. Meanwhile, the room temperature test tube sat at room temperature for five minutes. When the five minutes were over, the test tubes were returned to the rack (so that they were able to be observed). Then, the test tubes were allowed to sit at room temperature for five more minutes. Once that period of time was over, 2 ml of hydrogen peroxide (the substrate) was added to each tube.

The optimal temperature permits the utmost number of molecular collisions and the fastest alteration of the reactants to product molecules. Most human enzymes have an optimal temperature of about 35-40°C (close to body temperature 37°C).

Abstract: Enzymes, catalytic proteins that at as catalysis which makes the process of chemical reactions more easily. There are two main factors that actually affects enzymes and their functions which are temperature and pH. Throughout this experiment, the study how pH and peroxidase affects each other and the enzyme was made. The recordings of how the enzymes responded when it was exposed to four different pH levels to come up with an optimum pH which was predicted in the hypothesis and the IRV at the end.

Observing how the enzyme catalase found in chicken and beef livers breaks down hydrogen peroxide at varying pH levels and temperatures.

In the following experiments we will measure precise amounts of potato extract as well as Phenylthiourea, combined with or without deionized water and in some instances change the temperature and observe and record the reaction. We will also investigate the different levels of prepared pH on varying samples of the potato extract and the Phenylthiourea and record the results. We will answer question such as what is the best temperature for optimum temperature reaction as well as the best pH level for the same reaction.

Thermoregulation is important, especially in humans, as temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius cause enzymes to denature rapidly. Enzymes have an optimal range for catalysing reactions. Temperatures below this cause for the rate at which reactions occur to decrease, whereas temperatures above this can lead to the denaturing of enzymes and important metabolic reactions unable to occur. Therefore it is essential for enzymes in the body to be functioning.

When examining the effect of pH or temperature on enzyme function it is important to consider the type of enzyme being examined. While there may be an apparent effect of pH and temperature on all enzymatic function, the extent of the effect is dependent on the type of enzyme being examined. The current study is focused on the effect of temperature and pH on catechol oxidase; an enzyme that oxidises catechol.