Investigate the effect of pH on Trypsin

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Biology Coursework Plan

Aim

Investigate the effect of pH on Trypsin

Prediction / hypothesis

* pH will affect trypsin action

* as pH increases, tryrpsin will show increasing activity up to an optimum pH

* the action of the enzyme trypsin on the substrate egg albumen will be at a maximum at an optimum pH of around 7 (neutral) to 8 (slightly alkaline) see later about pH of duodenum

* as pH continues above this, trypsin activity will decrease

Background / Introduction

Proteins are complex organic compounds consisting of amino acids joined by peptide bonds which form highly folded three dimensional or tertiary structures. The bonds that maintain the tertiary structure of the protein are a result of interactions between the R groups of the amino acids: disulphide bridges (strong covalent), hydrogen (weak) bonds, ionic or electrovalent bonds, hydrophobic interactions.

Enzymes, such as trypsin, are globular proteins with a specific shaped active site into which the correct substrate can fit.

trypsin

protein / polypeptide peptides

Trypsin is a protease enzyme: a hydrolytic or digestive protein that cleaves peptide bonds. It is produced in