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Raising the temperature will denature an enzyme so that it is no longer functional. Lowering the temperature will reduce the rate of the reaction so low as to make it seem non-functional. Altering the pH above or below its optimum pH will also reduce the enzyme's activity, and at extremes the enzyme may be permanently denatured. Here's why:

* Proteins fold into particular shapes that are vital for (and determine) their function. * The shape a protein will fold into is determined by its amino acid sequence, since different amino acids have different properties. * Each amino acid has a 'side chain' sticking out of the main polypeptide chain, which will have specific chemical properties capable of forming certain interactions with other amino acids in the protein (as well as with water and other molecules).

* It is these intramolecular forces (interactions between different amino acids within a protein) that are responsible for producing and maintaining the shape of the protein. The forces are:

* Hydrogen bonds - weak bonds between slightly positively charged hydrogen and slightly negatively charged atoms (such as oxygen). * Electrostatic interactions - weak attractive forces between charged regions of the protein, including only small charges resulting from polar bonds. * Disulphide bridges * Hydrophobic interactions

* Hydrophobic interactions are not sufficient to hold a protein in a particular shape, only to pull the protein into a ball to help it fold into the correct shape. * Hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interactions are dependent on interactions between charges. pH is a measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, which are positively charged. If there were more hydrogen ions in the solution than the protein was designed for, these ions would compete for the interactions holding the protein together, as well as protonating groups that need to be deprotonated to form important intramolecular interactions (eg nitrogen). Equally, if there were too few hydrogen ions in the solution, the same interactions would disrupted by the relatively high concentration of hydroxide (OH) ions, and important protonated groups may become deprotonated.* Increasing the temperature increases the energy of the bonds and atoms in the protein, to the point at which there is enough energy to overcome the force of the intramolecular reactions, resulting in them breaking.

* Disruption of the interactions in any case will lead to some of the protein losing its ability to be held in a certain shape, which then reduces it's catalytic activity (as catalytic activity relies on the shape). The loss of activity will be proportional to the extent of the disruptions, which will in turn be proportional to the extent of the change in pH or temperature. * Disulphide bonds would also be reduced (broken) at very low pH, and broken at extremely high temperatures (though other interactions will have already broken and destroyed activity before this temperature/pH is reached). * Therefore, all proteins have a pH and temperature at which they have been designed to work that they will work very well at. The further away from the pH the solution gets, the more of the proteins will be effected by the change, until eventually they are all completely denatured. This concept is similar to the collision theory, in that a small change in pH will reduce activity, but not significantly, because very few of the increased hydrogen/hydroxide ions will actually be competing for the intramolecular interactions at any one time. Typically, a protein will work best at about 40oC and pH 7. The activity approximately halves with every 10oC drop in temperature between 0 and 40. The activity with varying pH resembles a normal distribution curve.

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15y ago
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6mo ago

Temperature and pH can significantly impact an enzyme's function. Enzymes have an optimal temperature and pH at which they work most efficiently. Deviations from this can denature the enzyme, altering its shape and thereby decreasing its activity. Extreme changes in temperature or pH can completely deactivate the enzyme.

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12y ago

Every enzyme has an optimum temperature and pH, at which it has the best or "optimum"activity. So any change in temperature and pH will lead to inactivation of the enzyme. Since most enzymes are protein in nature, temperatures higher than the optimum for the particular enzyme (every enzyme has its own unique and specific optimum pH and temperature) can lead to denaturation of the proteinaceous enzyme. Similarly, too much of a change in pH (higher or lower) can lead to damage of the enzyme.

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Q: How does temperature and pH effect the function of enzyme?
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What two internal body conditions effect enzyme activity?

temperature and pH


What three conditions can effect enzyme reactions?

pH level: Enzymes have an optimal pH at which they function, and deviating from this pH can affect their activity. Temperature: Enzymes can denature if exposed to extreme temperatures, reducing their effectiveness. Substrate concentration: Enzyme activity can be influenced by the amount of substrate available for the reaction.


Why are temperatures and pH important to enzyme function?

Temperatures and pH levels can affect the shape and structure of enzymes, impacting their ability to bind with substrates and catalyze reactions. Enzymes have optimal temperature and pH ranges at which they function most efficiently, and deviations from these ranges can denature the enzyme, rendering it nonfunctional. Maintaining appropriate temperatures and pH levels is crucial to ensure enzymes function optimally and facilitate biological processes effectively.


What conditions affects the function of enzymes?

Conditions such as temperature, pH, substrate concentration, and enzyme concentration can affect the function of enzymes. High temperatures can denature enzymes, extremes in pH can alter their structure, low substrate concentration can slow down reaction rates, and low enzyme concentration can limit the rate of reaction.


Factor that effect enzyme function?

Factors that can affect enzyme function include temperature, pH levels, substrate concentration, enzyme concentration, and the presence of inhibitors or activators. Changes in any of these factors can alter the activity of enzymes and either increase or decrease their ability to catalyze reactions.

Related questions

What two internal body conditions effect enzyme activity?

temperature and pH


What are the two factors that effect the efficiency of an enzyme?

Two factors that affect the efficiency of an enzyme are temperature and pH. Enzymes work best within a specific temperature and pH range, and deviations from these optimal conditions can denature the enzyme leading to decreased efficiency. Additionally, substrate concentration plays a role in enzyme efficiency as higher substrate concentrations can lead to faster reaction rates until all enzyme active sites are saturated.


What are the factors affects the function of enzymes?

pH and Temperature both impact the enzyme's function.


What effect do temperature and pH have on enzyme controlled reactions?

Temperature and pH can greatly impact enzyme activity. Enzymes have an optimal temperature and pH at which they function most effectively. High temperatures can denature enzymes, reducing their activity, while extreme pH levels can also affect enzyme structure and function. Changes in temperature or pH outside the optimal range can slow down or even stop enzyme-controlled reactions.


What must be held constant when testing the effect enzyme concentration on enzyme activity?

temperature,pH and substrate concentration


Is Enzyme function dependent of physical and chemical environmental factors such as pH and temperature?

Yes, enzyme function is dependent on physical and chemical environmental factors such as pH and temperature. Enzymes have an optimal pH and temperature at which they function most efficiently, and deviations from these conditions can affect their activity and efficiency. Extreme pH or temperature can denature enzymes, leading to loss of function.


What three conditions can effect enzyme reactions?

pH level: Enzymes have an optimal pH at which they function, and deviating from this pH can affect their activity. Temperature: Enzymes can denature if exposed to extreme temperatures, reducing their effectiveness. Substrate concentration: Enzyme activity can be influenced by the amount of substrate available for the reaction.


Why are temperatures and pH important to enzyme function?

Temperatures and pH levels can affect the shape and structure of enzymes, impacting their ability to bind with substrates and catalyze reactions. Enzymes have optimal temperature and pH ranges at which they function most efficiently, and deviations from these ranges can denature the enzyme, rendering it nonfunctional. Maintaining appropriate temperatures and pH levels is crucial to ensure enzymes function optimally and facilitate biological processes effectively.


What conditions affects the function of enzymes?

Conditions such as temperature, pH, substrate concentration, and enzyme concentration can affect the function of enzymes. High temperatures can denature enzymes, extremes in pH can alter their structure, low substrate concentration can slow down reaction rates, and low enzyme concentration can limit the rate of reaction.


Factor that effect enzyme function?

Factors that can affect enzyme function include temperature, pH levels, substrate concentration, enzyme concentration, and the presence of inhibitors or activators. Changes in any of these factors can alter the activity of enzymes and either increase or decrease their ability to catalyze reactions.


What are two factors that affect an enzyme function?

Temperature, pH, solute concentration, and salt content just to name a few. Temperature and Ph affect the function of enzymes because our body has a temperature of around 37 degrees and the conditions in our stomach are acidic. So9f or the enzyme to work properly then the working condidtions have to be at least 37 degrees and they need to acidic otherwise the enzyme won't work properly.


Is an enzymes function dependent on temperature and pH?

Yes, an enzyme's function is highly dependent on temperature and pH. Each enzyme has an optimal temperature and pH at which it works most efficiently. Deviations from these optimal conditions can denature the enzyme and affect its ability to catalyze reactions.