Question

This is a very simplistic approach to protein folding, which ignores solvent and volume effects, but it allows us to practice what we have learned about thermodynamics and kinetics. Enzymes are long chains of amino acids that have to fold in the proper way so as to exhibit enzyme activity. They can catalyze certain reactions. Let us pick an enzyme that is produced in the human body at 37 degrees celcius. We will call it enzyme X. Human enzymes exhibit optimum activity at 37 to 40 C.

What is the expected sign for delta H for the reaction that forms Enzyme X at 37 degrees celcius?

a. positive

b. negative.

c. zero

d. can't be determined

Answer 1