Question

pH in biochemistry shows how acidic or basic something is, which can affect how well things like enzymes work in our bodies. Give one example

Answer 1

One classic example of how pH affects enzyme activity is the enzyme **pepsin**, which is involved in protein digestion in the stomach. Pepsin is most active in the highly acidic environment of the stomach, where the pH typically ranges from 1.5 to 3.5. This acidic pH is crucial for the enzyme's structure and function, allowing it to effectively break down proteins into smaller peptides. If the pH were to rise to a more neutral level (around pH 7), pepsin would become inactive, significantly impairing protein digestion. This demonstrates the importance of pH in influencing enzyme activity and, consequently, various biochemical processes in the body.