Question

Enzyme activity is dependent on many factors. List at least three different factors that could negatively impact enzyme activity and describe one use for each instance in the body. (I.E. Oxycontin binds to enzyme active sites responsible for transferring pain signals, thus would be considered a

Answer 1

1. Extreme pH

All the enzymes work at a specific pH called as optimum pH. Any increase or decrease in this optimum value results in the loss of 3D structure of enzyme and loss of its enzymatic activity.

Pepsin is the enzyme which works at low pH in stomach. Low pH in stomach is maintained by HCl secreted by parietal cells in stomach. Increase in the pH of stomach results in the inability of enzyme to work causing indigestion.

2. Competitive inhibitors

These are the molecules which are similar in shape and size to the substrate and bind to the active site of enzyme preventing the binding of substrate to enzyme.

Penicillin is a competitve inhibitor. It binds to the active site of enzyme responsible for the formation of peptidoglycan in bacteria, thereby, preventing the synthesis of cell wall in bacteria.

3. Temperature

All the enzymes work at a specific temperature called as optimum temperature. Any deviation from the optimum value results in the loss of 3D structure of enzyme and loss of its catalytic activity.

Taq polymerase is an enzyme which catalyses the polymerization of DNA during PCR at 72℃. If the temperature is decreased, than the enzyme cannot catalyse polymerization reaction.

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