Biology Homework:

Factors Effecting Enzymes

Activity 1
a) The optimal temperature of enzymes found in the stomach is 37˚C with
a pH of 2 compared to small intestine that have a pH close to neutral
and has the same temperature
b) if carbon dioxide gas builds up in the blood, it lowers the pH of the
blood, thus making it more acidic. This would impact on the enzymes
because the enzymes would become less efficient.
c) variations in human body temperature can cause significant health
because enzymes play a big role in the body system. Enzymes are
made of proteins which are held together by weak hydrogen bonds.
This denatures the enzyme.
Activity 2
1. the more concentrated the enzyme is the rate of reaction will increase.
2. Once the substrate concentration goes past the point of saturation the
rate of reaction will not increase or decrease.
3. The reaction rate will not increase after the point of saturation has been
reached is because the enzyme’s active site is occupied by a substrate
Activity 3
There are two different types of inhibitors; a non-competitive inhibitor and a
competitive inhibitor. A non-competitive inhibitor binds the enzyme, resulting in
a shape change at the active site. A competitive inhibitor blocks the substrate
from binding the active site of the enzyme
Activity 4
a. Cofactors are inorganic substances
b. Coenzymes are organic substances
c. Example of a cofactor include magnesium and iron
d. Example of coenzyme include vitamins
e. Cofactors and coenzymes are widely available in the human diet
f. Cofactors are proteins
g. Coenzymes are not proteins
Activity 5
a. Cofactor
b. Cofactor
c. Coenzyme
d. Cofactor

Textbook summary- 152-167

Features of enzymes
o They are formed from long chains of amino acids that coil and fold into
a compact structure
Enzyme Specificity
 o The active site is a pockets groove-like depression in the enzymes
structure formed from the tertiary (3D) folding of the protein
o When the active site binds to the substrate, it forms an enzyme-
substrate complex
Enzyme-substrate interaction models
o The lock-and-key model describe the active site and the specific
substrate as fitting together like a lock and key. The key is the substrate
and the lock is the enzyme’s active site.
o The induced-fit model states that when a substrate binds to the active
site of an enzyme, the active site changes shape. This model is more
accurate
Enzymes and energy in reactions
o Catabolic reactions break down substrates. Exergonic
o Anabolic reactions produce larger molecules from smaller substrates

PLANT ENZYMES
Photosynthesis
o An enzyme called RuBisCo catalyses this fixation of carbon dioxide.
The cycle can then proceed to produce glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate,
which the plant uses to make carbohydrates
Other plant enzymes
o Some herbicide (chemical that kills plants) work by blocking plant
enzyme activity. A tiny herbicide molecule can attach to the active site
of an enzyme and stop it from working
Fruit enzymes
o Proteases speed up the breakdown of proteins. Enzymes extracted
from these fruits have uses as medicines, food-processing agents and
dietary supplements

FUNGI ENZYMES
o Many fungi are saphrotrophs. They cause decay by releasing enzymes
onto the dead animal or plant. These break down complex compounds
into simple, soluble compounds that can be absorbed by the
decomposer
FACTORS THAT AFFECT ENZYME ACTIVTY
o when cells produce too much or too little of particular substances, or are
unable to properly break down substances, the whole organism can
suffer. To account for this, cells have mechanisms that regulate
biochemical reactions (metabolism) to ensure the final product is not
overproduced or under produced
o factors such as temperature, pH and the concentration of the substrate
and enzyme all affect the rate of enzymatic reactions.

Temperature
 o the rate of enzyme-catalysed reactions will generally increase as the
temperature increases. This is because the warmer that particle are
during a reaction, the more rapidly they move, which makes successful
collisions and reactions between them more likely to occur
o proteins-including enzymes- can be denatured at high temperatures
o when this occurs, the hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions that
create the coiled, globular tertiary shape of the enzyme are broken
o if enzymes are cooled below their optimum temperature, the rate of
reactions will slow down. This is because particles will move slowly at
cooler temperatures, making successful collision less likely.
pH
o enzymes have a specific pH range at which they function best.
o If enzymes are taken too far above or below their optimum pH, then
their tertiary structure is affected, the enzyme may become denatured
and the substrate may not be able bind
Enzyme and substrate concentration
o the concentration of enzyme compared to substrate affects the rate of
reactions.
o If the enzyme concentration is lower than the substrate concentration,
then the reaction rate will be slow and will continue for longer. This is
because there are few active sites compared to the number of substrate
molecule, so the substrate molecules will have to ‘wait’ until there is a
free active site.
Inhibition of enzyme activity
o Enzyme activity can also be changes by inhibitor molecules that bind to
the enzyme’s
o The inhibition of enzyme activity by an inhibitor molecule can be
reversible or irreversible
o Reversible inhibitors are used to control enzyme activity by switching
them on or off.
o Many poisons are irreversible inhibitors
o Enzyme inhibition is also classified as being competitive inhibition or
non- competitive inhibition
o Feedback inhibition occurs when a product that is produced late in a
biochemical pathway is also an inhibitor of an enzyme earlier in the
pathway. Feedback inhibition is an important mechanism in controlling
enzyme activity

Key questions
1. The three main features are: the activation energy which is the amount
of energy input required for a reaction to start, the active site is a three-
dimensional, pocket-like depression of the enzyme’s structure that is
shaped to interact with its specific value and enzymes can be reused
 2. The lock and key model states that the substrate fits exactly into the
active site and the induce-fit model states that when a substrate binds
to the active site of an enzyme.
3. Anabolic

Unicellular, Colonial and Multicellular Organisms

1. The 3 domains of life are Archaea, bacteria and Eukaryotes
2. You will find unicellular life forms in archaea and bacteria and
multicellular in eukaryotes
3. The main characteristics of life are growth and development,
reproduction, respiration, respond to stimuli, movement and locomotion,
nutrition or feeding, assimilation, metabolism and excretion
4. Prokaryotes include bacteria and archaea which are unicellular and
Eukaryotes are multicellular
5. You will find unicellular organisms in moist environments
6. The size of unicellular organisms help determine their structure because
the cell is very small
7. A colonial life form means a colony of cells living together
8. The kingdoms that multicellular organisms are found are in animal,
plant, fungi and Protista.
9. Most multicellular organisms require systems in order for them to take in
nutrients and remove wastes from every cell and have specialised
reproductive structures.

Textbook Summary: Pg. 188-192

Unicellular organisms
o A single cell must carry out all functions, including obtaining nutrients,
exchanging gases, removing waste and reproducing
o In colonial and multicellular organisms, these functions are shared
between different individuals or different types

Multicellular Organisms
o A multicellular organism is life a community of cell that work
cooperatively for the survival and reproduction of the organism
o For an organisms to be considered truly multicellular, it must have
multiple specialised cells that are responsible for specific functions
› Have the same DNA (except for reproductive cells)
› Be connected and must communicate and cooperate to function
as a single organism
› Be dependent on each other for survival

Colonial organisms
 o A special form of multicellular organism that consists of many
individuals living together
o Two types of colonial organisms: those that form a facultative colony
and those that form an obligate colony
o Facultative colonies
› Usually independent
› From complex social structures
› E.g. honey bees
o Obligate colonies consist of individuals called zooids that vary in form
and carry out specific functions for the organism to survive

Key questions Pg. 193

1. The tawny frogmouth and the eucalypt tree are both multicellular
organisms because it has multiple cells, its non-reproductive cells have
DNA, the cells cooperate to function as a single organism and carry out
specialised functions.
2. Unicellular organisms are only one cell; they are independent compared
to multicellular cells. Multicellular cells have multiple cells, its non-
reproductive cells have DNA, the cells cooperate to function as a single
organism and carry out specialised functions.
 3. The Portuguese man-of-war is a colonial marine organisms that can be
found along beaches after strong winds or tides.
4. Having more cells mean more energy needs to be used and the cells
cannot function independently
5. Facultative colonies are usually independent and from complex social
structures e.g. honey bees
Obligate colonies consist of individuals called zooids that vary in form
and carry out specific functions for the organism to survive e.g.
parasites

Cells, Tissues, Organs and Systems

1. Define the following terms
Cell: the cell is the basic unit of life
Tissue: a tissue is a group of cells with similar structure and function
Organ: an organ is a group of tissues grouped together to make a
structure with a special function
System: a system is usually a groups of organs whose function is closely
related

2. Use a plant as a multicellular organism to give an example of each

of the following
Organ: Leaf
Tissue:
Specialised cell: Plant cells
3. Muscle tissue generates motion and generates force. It can also
generate heat and help maintain body temperature in endotherm. These
three different of muscle tissue are found in different organs and
different systems
4. The kidneys, certain nerves, bladder, urethra and ureters
cooperate to remove chemical wastes from the body. Identify the
level of organisation for this cooperation
Tissue: connective tissue
Organ: kidneys, bladder
System: excretory system
Cell: nerve
5. What is the importance of cells having different shapes?
Different cell shape is related to different function