Question

Enzymes Temperature is an important factor that can regulate enzyme-mediated functions. Temperature is one of the tightly homeostatically controlled variables in the human body. What are the symptoms of loss of temperature control during a high fever? Explain why these symptoms occur based on enzyme function and cell signaling effects that are dependent on temperature. Based on Figure 1, explain how the temperature optimum of the activity of enzymes is expected to differ in organisms depending on where they live. What organism would you expect to have a curve as shown in blue in Figure 1 and what organism do you expect to find an enzyme activity temperature curve like the one shown in pink in Figure 1. Relative Enzyme Activity A 0 50 10 20 30 40 Degrees Celsius Figure 1: temperature effect on enzyme activity. Similar to temperature, enzymes, have an optimal pH range. Complete the information in Table 1 about the function of the listed digestive human enzymes and their optimum pH of. Remember to reference where you found the information in the Table. Look back at prac 1 and write down the pH of Coke (or other soft drinks you may have measured) and also look up the pH of soda water from the pH scale provided in prac 3 - discuss what the effect of consuming large amounts of low pH drinks may be. Optimum pH Table 1: human digestive enzymes, their function and optimal pH Enzyme name Where is this enzyme What is the enzyme function Pepsin Trypsin Lipase Salivary amylase

Answer 1

* Organisms living in temperate climates will have an enzyme activity as shown by the pink curve. The average temperature of the region where such animals live should range between 5 degrees to 20 degree celcius.

The blue curve depicts enzyme activity in organizms living in the tropical and sub-tropical regions, with an average temperature of 15 to 45 degree celcius.

*

Enzyme	Where is the enzyme	What is the function	Optimum pH
Pepsin	stomach	To break protein into peptones and peptides	1.7 to 2
Trypsin	Duodenum of small intestine [secreted by the pancreas]	Digest proteins into amino acids	7.5 to 8
Lipase	Duodenum of small intestine [secreted by the pancreas]	Digest the emulsified fats into fatty acids and glycerols.	8
Salivary amylase	In the buccal cavity [secreted by salivary glands]	Breaks starch into simpler sugars, like maltose.	6.8