is the Enzymes - High School Gizmos lab Explain how you determined that Claire had low enzyme production. Use your experimental data to explain how you ruled out active site mutations and abnormal pH.

Answer 1

To determine that Claire had low enzyme production in the High School Gizmos lab, you likely collected and analyzed experimental data related to enzyme activity under various controlled conditions. Here’s how you could explain your reasoning, including how you ruled out active site mutations and abnormal pH:

Determining Low Enzyme Production

1. Measurement of Enzyme Activity: During the lab, you would have likely measured the rate of reaction catalyzed by Claire's enzymes compared to a control group or standard values. If the reaction rate for Claire's enzyme was significantly lower than that of others, this would indicate low enzyme production.

2. Substrate Concentration Studies: You might have conducted experiments where substrate concentration was varied. Normally, enzyme activity increases with substrate concentration until a maximum rate is reached (Vmax) when the enzyme is saturated. If Claire's enzyme did not reach Vmax or showed low activity even at high substrate concentrations, this further supports the conclusion of low enzyme production.

Ruling Out Active Site Mutations

1. Comparative Activity Assay: To check for active site mutations, you could have compared Claire's enzyme activity in the presence of inhibitors known to bind to the active site. If the enzyme activity was reduced in a similar manner to that of control enzymes under inhibition, it suggests that the active site is functional, ruling out mutations at that location.

2. Enzyme Kinetics: By analyzing the Michaelis-Menten kinetics (e.g., calculating Km and Vmax), you could determine whether Claire's enzyme exhibited normal kinetics. If Km values were similar to those in control enzymes but the Vmax was lower, it indicates less enzyme quantity rather than an altered active site.

Ruling Out Abnormal pH

1. pH Activity Profile: If you tested the enzyme's activity across a range of pH levels (from acidic to basic), you would expect to see a bell-shaped curve where the enzyme activity is optimal at a specific pH. If Claire’s enzyme activity fell within the expected range and showed typical activity profiles at optimum pH, this suggests that her enzyme is not adversely affected by abnormal pH levels.

2. Control Experiments: Performing experiments under controlled pH conditions with enzymes from other individuals (including control enzymes) alongside Claire’s would highlight whether any variations in activity were due to pH. If all enzymes, including Claire’s, performed similarly at the optimal pH, you could confirm that pH was not the issue.

Conclusion:

Ultimately, from the data gathered, you concluded that Claire had low enzyme production due to the consistently low reaction rates in various conditions, supported by kinetic studies and activity assays that ruled out both active site mutations and abnormal pH levels. This comprehensive approach of analyzing the enzyme function helped clarify the reason for her low enzyme levels.