Factors Affecting the Rate of Enzyme Activity Analysis and Conclusions: 1.

As shown in Graph 4, there is a direct relationship between enzyme concentration and the rate of the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). It seems that as the concentration of catalase increases, the rate of the reaction also increases steadily. Catalase acts as a catalyst, binding to the substrate (H2O2) and providing the necessary activation energy to speed up the reaction. Conversely, we can predict that if the concentration of catalase was to gradually decrease, the rate of the decomposition of H2O2 would instead slow down. This is because fewer catalase enzymes would be available to bind to the substrate (H2O2) and no additional energy would be provided to speed up the reaction. Though H2O2 decomposes spontaneously (on its own), the presence of catalase definitely speeds up the rate at which this takes place. 2. As shown in Graph 3, we can see a correlation between the amount of substrate present and the rate of decomposition of the substrate. The substrate is defined as the molecule which latches on to the active site of the enzyme in order to be catalyzed. In this case, the substrate is hydrogen peroxide and the enzyme is catalase. Graph 3 shows that when there is only a small amount of substrate the reaction takes place slowly. Likewise, when the amount of substrate increases the rate of reaction also increases. This is because it is more likely for the two units to interact when there are large concentrations of each. However, it should be noted that the reaction takes place super quickly when there are many enzymes and few substrates, since its almost as if the catalase molecules swarm the substrates and force the reaction to take place (shown in Graph 4). 3. As we know, any form of heat acts as energy and can speed up reactions. In the case of catalase catalyzing the decomposition of H2O2, an increase in temperature further speeds up the reaction by contributing to the provision of the activation energy. As shown in Graph 1, the reaction takes place much faster at high temperatures than at low temperatures. At low temperatures the reaction still takes place faster than it would spontaneously since catalyzing enzymes are present, but at high temperatures energy for the reaction is provided by both the enzyme and the rising heat. It should be noted that at extremely high temperatures enzymes become denatured and can no longer function, similar to the denaturation of proteins. At high temperatures, proteins decompose from complex structures into smaller polypeptides, losing their rigidity and becoming soft. In the same way, at high temperatures the bonds holding an enzyme together are broken and it no longer maintains its structure. 4. Similar to temperature, an increase in pH levels can positively affect catalytic reactions, to an extent. As shown in Graph 2, when pH levels increase from 4 to 7 (or from acidic to neutral) the rate of reaction also increases. However, as the pH levels become more basic (from 8 to 12) this inhibits the effect of the enzyme (which becomes denatured). We know from our understanding of proteins that protein chains fall apart in basic conditions, since protein structure becomes soft as it decomposes into individual amino acids. Likewise, the enzyme also ceases to function when the bonds holding it together break under basic pH conditions.

5. Finally, it would be interesting to explore the effect of enzymes in ectothermic organisms. Without a doubt, reactions must take place inside every organism in order for it to function and continue living. Humans, for instance, process milk by using the enzyme lactase to break down lactose, a milk sugar, into glucose and galactose. The resulting monosaccharides are essential sources of energy. However, while humans have the ability to regulate body temperature (by sweating, etc.), ectothermic organisms do not have this luxury; their body temperatures match that of their environment. We discovered in our lab that temperature directly affects enzyme function. At low temperatures, reactions progress slowly or not at all. At high temperatures, reactions progress very quickly, but necessary enzymes can eventually become denatured once they pass their optimal catalyzing temperature. This poses several problems to ectothermic organisms; at low temperatures nutrients are broken down too slowly to be of use and at high temperatures enzymes become denatured and once again necessary reactions cannot take place. To avoid these extremes, ectothermic organisms could move to a climate ideal for these reactions (hopefully at 37C since this is the optimal functioning temperature of most enzymes). However, if stuck in a climate that was too cool or too warm, the organisms could generate their own heat (through physical activity) of let out heat (by sweating), respectively. Hopefully these alternate methods would allow the organism to continue the reactions necessary for life.