How Are Enzymes Affected by Temperature and Ph

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Enzymes and proteins are affected by the same factors Enzymes are biological catalysts; they increase the rate of chemical reactions without being used up. Enzymes are proteins that are shape differently to allow the substrates to fit inside of them, the place where the substrates fit is called the active site. If the shape of an enzyme changes, the active site might not work, the changing of the shape is called denaturing. Enzymes can not be killed, although they are made by living things they are proteins and are not alive Enzymes can be denatured by high temperatures or high levels of pH. Enzymes and temperature As the temperature increases, so does the rate of reaction, but very high temperatures denature enzymes. This graph shows how the rate of reaction changes due to increasing levels of heat. As the graph shows: at roughly 37ºC (body temperature) the rate of reaction starts to fall, and the rate falls rapidly as the enzyme is denatured. Enzymes and pH Like with heat, changes in pH levels can denature an enzyme, different enzymes work best at different pH levels. The pH level where the enzyme works best depends on where it is in the body. For example, intestinal enzymes work best with a pH level of about 7.5 and enzymes in the stomach work best with a pH level of about 2. As the graph shows, the rate of reactions increase until the pH level reaches 8, where there is a rapid decline in the rate of

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