During this simulation, write what you observe. Make sure to include the following as they are worth one point each.

Question

1. If amylase is attached to the amylase inhibitor, will it break down starch?

2. What happens to the enzyme/inhibitor complex when it touches starch?

3. How does the presence of the amylase inhibitor affect the rate of the entire reaction? (Faster or Slower)

4. What would happen if you add a couple of maltase molecules?

(4 points)

Answer 1

1. If amylase is attached to the amylase inhibitor, it will not break down starch. The inhibitor prevents the amylase from binding to starch, thereby blocking its catalytic activity.

2. When the enzyme/inhibitor complex touches starch, there is no reaction because the amylase is inhibited. The complex remains inactive and cannot catalyze the breakdown of starch into simpler sugars.

3. The presence of the amylase inhibitor affects the rate of the entire reaction by making it slower. With fewer active amylase molecules available to break down starch, the overall rate of starch digestion decreases.

4. If you add a couple of maltase molecules, they would not have an effect on the reaction occurring between amylase and starch, as maltase specifically catalyzes the breakdown of maltose into glucose. However, if maltose is produced in the reaction (assuming some starch was broken down before inhibition), maltase would then act on that maltose to further break it down. But it will not enhance the action of amylase against starch in the presence of the inhibitor.