To investigate and compare the activity of immobilised enzymes against enzymes free in solution at a range of different concentrations.

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Biology Coursework

Planning

Aim:

To investigate and compare the activity of immobilised enzymes against enzymes free in solution at a range of different concentrations.

Introduction:

Lactose:

C12H22O11, found in the milk of mammals, is a disaccharide composed of one glucose and one galactose molecule joined by a beta 1:4 linkage.

C12H22O11 C6H12O6 + C6H12O6

Lactose glucose galactose

Draw out structure from sheet

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To utilise lactose an organism must posses a specific enzyme (lactase) which catalyses the hydrolysis of lactose into glucose and galactose. To fully utilise lactose a organism must also have a second enzyme which subsequently converts galactose into glucose.

Among adult humans, the ability to digest lactose is actually relatively rare (confined particularly to whites of Northern European ancestry) and lactose intolerance occurs due to an absence of production of the human lactase digestive enzyme which catalyses the hydrolysis of lactose into its constituent monomers.

Enzymes

Enzymes are biological catalysts. A catalyst is a substance, which speeds up a reaction without getting used up itself. Industrial processes use catalysts to speed up production, reducing the need for high