Enzyme 3 is normally found in the small intestine where the pH is high. Predict the outcome if Enzyme 3 were placed in the stomach, which has a pH around 2.

1 answer

Enzyme 3, which is normally found in the small intestine where the pH is high (around 7-8), is likely to be sensitive to changes in pH. If Enzyme 3 were placed in the stomach, where the pH is around 2, it would experience an environment that is highly acidic.

Most enzymes have an optimal pH range in which they function best. If the pH is significantly lower than this optimal range, the enzyme may become denatured, meaning its three-dimensional structure could change, leading to a loss of its catalytic abilities. As a result, Enzyme 3 would likely not function effectively in the stomach.

In summary, the outcome of placing Enzyme 3 in the acidic environment of the stomach would likely be a significant reduction in enzyme activity or complete inactivation due to denaturation.