Question

What are the effects of acid on enzymes? specifically the enzyme catalase.

Answer 1

i really need help!!!!!!

Answer 2

Hmm are you thinking about the inhibition effect or pH?

Answer 3

um im not sure...in the lab we used lemon juice and the enzyme catalase.

Answer 4

Well lets take both:
catalase catalyze the reaction 2 H2O2 <-> O2 + 2 H2O. But other acids also fits the catalytic site and the reaction would then look like this H2O2 + H2R <-> 2 H2O + R. Becuase of this, the enzyme is inhibited (competative) from carying out the first reaction (depending on the concentration of acids and hydrogen peroxid), becuase of the inhibitation, hydrogen peroxid might just accumulate and then becomes poisonous becuase it is a strong oxidizer.

Well then there are the base acid effect (pH):
Acids have the power to strip some of there protons so acid become negative could be a carboxylate ion. This change the active site in its conformentation so the hydrogen peroxid don't bind as good. this also make a inhibition (non-competaive)

Answer 5

They affect the amino acids that make up the enzyme by either protonating or deprotonating amino acids.
This state is necessary for tertiary peptide structure and this dictates whether an enzyme can be functional or not.

Answer 6

Sorry for all the spelling mistakes.

Answer 7

Thank you both!