Question

You are conducting an experiment to investigate how temperature affects the activity of the enzyme catalase, which breaks down hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) into water (H₂O) and oxygen (O₂). You measure the rate of oxygen production at different temperatures and record the results. The following is the graph based on the results of the experiment. Use the data table and graph to help you answer the question: Identify and describe the temperature at which the enzyme activity is at its maximum. What can you infer about the effect of temperature on enzyme activity based on the graph? (5 points)

Answer 1

To answer your question effectively, let’s break it down step by step based on the typical results you might observe from an experiment investigating the effect of temperature on catalase activity, even though I can't view specific graphs or data tables.

1. Identify the Maximum Temperature for Enzyme Activity: Generally, the rate of reaction will increase with temperature up to a certain point due to increased kinetic energy, which makes enzyme-substrate collisions more likely. You would look at the graph presented and identify the peak point of the curve where the rate of oxygen production (y-axis) is at its highest. This temperature point is your maximum enzyme activity.

2. Describe the Temperature: You would specify the temperature at which the maximum activity occurs, which might typically be around 37°C to 40°C for enzymes like catalase that are found in human cells. At this temperature, the enzyme catalase is likely to be in its optimal state for breaking down hydrogen peroxide, resulting in maximum production of oxygen.

3. Inferences About Temperature's Effect on Enzyme Activity:

   • Optimal Temperature: You can infer that there is an optimal temperature range where the enzyme activity is maximized. Enzymes are highly sensitive to temperature, and their structure is maintained by weak interactions (like hydrogen bonds) that can be disrupted at high temperatures.
   • Enzyme Denaturation: If the graph falls off significantly after the maximum point, it suggests that at temperatures beyond the optimal, the rate of enzyme activity declines sharply. This can be attributed to denaturation of the enzyme, which can occur if the temperature is too high, leading to a loss of the enzyme's functional shape.
   • Increased Activity with Temperature: Up to the optimal temperature, increased thermal energy accelerates the reaction rates until the enzyme's active site aligns optimally with the substrate.
   • Thermal Stability: Different enzymes have varying thermal stability, and deviations from their optimal temperature can severely impact their functionality.

4. Conclusion: It's essential to clearly communicate that the relationship between temperature and enzyme activity often appears as a bell-shaped curve, reflecting initial increase followed by a decline after reaching the optimum temperature.

In summary, the maximum enzyme activity occurs at a specific temperature (identify the exact temperature from the graph), and as temperature increases towards and past this point, enzyme activity is significantly affected, highlighting the temperature sensitivity of enzyme function.