Table of Contents
What was the effect on catecholase activity due to varying substrate concentrations?
When catechol is in excess and substrate is increased, the rate of reaction increases to a maximum limit due to the inability of the enzyme to work higher than its normal rate of reaction.
What is the source of catecholase for this lab?
We will be using the enzyme catecholase (or catechol oxidase) that is common in plants; it is present in the freshly squeezed potato juice that has been provided.
What does the catecholase enzyme do?
Catecholase catalyzes the reaction of catechol and oxygen and is the enzyme that causes bruised or otherwise damaged fruit to turn brown. In the presence of catecholase, catechol is oxidized to form benzoquinone, which has a reddish brown color.
What pH does catecholase work best at?
6-8
Catecholase, an enzyme found in fruits in nature, is well adapted for efficiency in nature. Its range of optimal pH levels, 6-8, allows it to function in the varying pH levels of soil and those caused by acid rain. Sample 2: Enzymes catalyze reactions by lowering the activation energy of the reaction.
How does temperature affect catecholase?
The temperature can have an impact on the rate of catechol oxidase activity on catechol by accelerating or slowing down the reaction.
What factors affect enzyme activity lab?
The main factors which will affect the activity of an enzyme on a given substrate are:
- Temperature (use water baths to minimise fluctuations)
- pH (acidic or alkaline solutions)
- Substrate concentration (choose range to avoid saturation)
- Presence of inhibitor (type of inhibitor will be enzyme-specific)
Where is the active site located?
The active site is usually a groove or pocket of the enzyme which can be located in a deep tunnel within the enzyme, or between the interfaces of multimeric enzymes.
Why does enzymatic browning happen?
The enzymatic browning process is only triggered when PPO, phenolic compounds and oxygen come in contact with one another. This is exactly what happens when a fruit is cut, falls or is knocked around too much.
How is catechol oxidized?
Catechol can be oxidized to its highly reactive quinone form through autoxidation and the use of enzymatic (e.g., tyrosinase, horseradish peroxidase) and chemical oxidants (e.g., sodium periodate).
Why does catalase work best at 37 degrees?
Why do enzymes work best at 37 degrees? Most enzyme functions are performed at 37∘C in humans because the enzymes are able to retain its structure at that temperature, allowing it to break down complex molecules efficiently.
Why is catalase important?
Catalase is a very common enzyme that is present in almost all organisms that are exposed to oxygen. The purpose of catalase in living cells is to protect them from oxidative damage, which can occur when cells or other molecules in the body come into contact with oxidative compounds.