How is the activity of enzyme affected by pH and temperature?
Answers
Explanation:
Enzymes are basically the proteins which speed up the rate of reactions in living cells.
Effect of pH:
Every enzyme shows maximum activity at an optimum pH. Their activity is slow above or below the optimum pH. Enzymes have active sites where the substrates bind. These active sites are damaged or in other words their shape is changed by changing the pH. Substrates no longer fit the active site and the reaction does not occur.
Effect of temperature:
Every enzyme shows highest activity at a specific temperature which is called the optimum temperature. The rate of reaction above or below this temperature is slower. Increasing the temperature causes the frequency of collisions to increase as the molecules move faster when the heat is supplied. For a 10 degree Celsius rise in the temperature, the activity of enzyme doubles until the optimum temperature is reached. Increasing further temperature damages the active sites and changes their shapes. Substrates can no longer fit into the active sites. At temperatures higher than 60 degrees Celsius enzymes are basically completely denatured.
