Effect of Temperature on Enzyme Activity

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Biology Coursework: Investigating the Effect of Temperature on Enzyme Activity

Aim:

The aim of this investigation is to try and find out the effect the temperature has   on enzyme activity. I will be using the enzyme trypsin in this experiment to try and find out what happens to the enzymes when we change the temperature.

Introduction: 

Enzymes in the body are a key part in the digestion of food. They break down substances in food so it can be passed into the blood and then passed into the rest of the body for various uses. Enzymes are found in certain places in the alimentary canal including saliva in the mouth, gastric juice in the stomach, etc. For example, the enzyme lipase is produced in the pancreas and is found in the pancreatic juice. It is used for the break down of lipids to fatty acids and glycerol. They are absorbed into the walls of the small intestine and passed into the blood which takes it to the rest of the body and is generally used for a secondary source for energy and mainly insulation. This is why it is stored under the skin as adipose tissue.

The break down of substances is done by the lock-and-key model of an enzyme. This theory suggests that certain enzymes break down only certain substances. For example the enzyme lipase (lock) can only break down the substance lipid (key) because lipids only fit into the lipase. Another substance such as protein would not, however, fit into the lipase and therefore doesn’t break it down. There is another reason why enzymes may not break down a substance. This is because the enzyme could get denatured for various reasons. A common reason is the enzyme may not be in the correct PH value of 7. Another reason is the temperature can make the enzyme denatured. This is something else that I will be investigating – what temperature can the enzyme work best at and what temperature do they become denatured. The graph below shows the rate of reaction of an enzyme and the temperature.

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Apparatus

        In the preliminary experiment and the main experiment I am going to use the following elements:

  1. 5 Test Tubes – 4 to hold the main solution and 1 for the control.
  2. Water baths – For the different temperatures – holding test tubes.
  3. Stop watch – to time the acclimatization period and then to time the regular intervals for the photographic film.
  4. Split-ended splint – To hold the photographic film to dip into the solution.
  5. Photographic film – To dip into the solution and check for reaction.

Safety

There are a few safety procedures ...

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This is a very good start to a project. 1. The language used is appropriate and the sentences generally flow well. 2. The level of detail is excellent. It has clearly been thought through. 3. The order of the sections is good and the use of a preliminary test before the main project allows for the inclusion of scientific concepts. 4. The introduction should include references to sources of information. **** (4 stars)