Enzyme Lab

How do abiotic or biotic factors influence the rates of enzymatic reactions?

BACKGROUND:
Enzymes are catalysts of biological systems. They speed up chemical reactions in biological systems
by lowering the activation energy, the energy needed for molecules to begin reacting with each other. Enzymes
do this by forming an enzyme-substrate complex that reduces energy required for the specific reaction to
occur. Enzymes have specific shapes and structures that determine their functions. The enzymes active site is
very selective, allowing only certain substances to bind. If the shape of an enzyme is changed in any way, or
the protein denatured, then the binding site also changes, thus disrupting enzymatic functions.
Enzymes are fundamental to the survival of any living system and are organized into a number of
groups depending on their specific activities. Two common groups are catabolic enzymes (cata or kata-from
the Greek to break down) for instance, amylase breaks complex starches into simple sugars and
anabolic enzymes (a- or an- from the Greek to build up). (You may know this second word already from
stories about athletes who have been caught using anabolic steroids to build muscle.)
Catalytic enzymes, called proteases, break down proteins and are found in many organisms; one
example is bromelain, which comes from pineapple and can break down gelatin. Bromelain often is an
ingredient in commercial meat marinades papain is an enzyme that comes from papaya and is used in some
teeth whiteners to break down the bacterial film on teeth. People who are lactose intolerant cannot digest milk
sugar (lactose); however, they can take supplements containing lactase, the enzyme they are missing. All of
these enzymes hydrolyze large, complex molecules into their simpler components; bromelain and papain
break proteins down to amino acids, while lactase breaks lactose down to simpler sugars.
Anabolic enzymes are equally vital to all living systems. One example is ATP synthase, the enzyme that
stores cellular energy in ATP by combining ADP and phosphate. Another example is rubisco, an enzyme
involved in the anabolic reactions of building sugar molecules in the Calvin cycle of photosynthesis.
To begin this investigation, you will focus on the enzyme catalase, a member of a class of enzymes
called peroxidases. Catalase is one of several enzymes that break down hydrogen peroxide, a toxic metabolic
waste product of aerobic respiration. Using catalase, you will develop essential skills to examine your own
questions about enzyme function.
General Safety Precautions
Follow general laboratory safety procedures. Since the concentrations of the reactive materials in this
laboratory are environmentally friendly, they can be rinsed down a standard laboratory drain. The
concentrations used here are deemed to be safe by all chemical standards, but recall that any compound has
the potential of being detrimental to living things and the environment. When you develop your individual
investigations you must always consider the toxicity of materials used.
Key Vocabulary
Baseline is a universal term for most chemical reactions. In this investigation the term is used to
establish a standard for a reaction. Thus, when manipulating components of a reaction (in this case, substrate
or enzyme), you have a reference to help understand what occurred in the reaction. The baseline may vary
with different scenarios pertinent to the design of the experiment, such as altering the environment in which the
reaction occurs. In this scenario, different conditions can be compared, and the effect of changing an
environmental variable (e.g., pH) can be determined.
Rate can have more than one applicable definition depending on whether you use a qualitative or
quantitative approach. When using a color palette to compare the change in a reaction, you can infer increase,
decrease, or no change in the rate; this inference is usually called the relative rate of the reaction. When
measuring an actual value (as you will do in this lab), the rate is usually referred to as absolute rate of the
reaction. In this case, a specific amount of time can be measured.

THE INVESTIGATIONS
Developing a Method for Measuring Catalase Activity and Determining a Baseline
Peroxide (such as hydrogen peroxide) is a toxic byproduct of aerobic metabolism. Catalase is an enzyme that
breaks down these peroxides. It is produced by most cells in their peroxisomes. The general reaction can be
depicted as follows:
Enzyme + Substrate Enzyme-Substrate Complex Enzyme + Product(s) +G
For this investigation the specific reaction is as follows:
Catalase + Hydrogen Peroxide Complex Catalase +Water +Oxygen
2H2O2 2H2O +O2 (gas)
Notice that the catalase is present at the start and end of the reaction. Like all catalysts, enzymes are not
consumed by the reactions. To determine the rate of an enzymatic reaction, you must measure a change in the
amount of at least one specific substrate or product over time. In a decomposition reaction of peroxide by
catalse (as noted in the above formula), the easiest molecule to measure would probably be oxygen, a final
product. This could be done by measuring the actual volume of oxygen gas released or by using an indicator.
In this experiment, an oxygen gas probe will be used.
Procedure 1: Baseline--Enzyme Concentration
Materials:
Catalase
1.5% hydrogen peroxide
Distilled (deionized water)
Test tubes and appropriate test tube rack
5 ml graduated pipettes or cylinders
Plastic dropper pipettes
Oxygen gas probe
Labquest data collector
In this experiment, you will determine the rate at which a 1.5% solution decomposes when catalyzed by the
catalase extract. To do this, you will determine how much H2O2 has been consumed after 0, 30, 60, 90, 120,
150, and 180 seconds.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Set up the Labquest to collect data ever 30 seconds for 180 seconds.
Obtain 3 test tubes, and label them 5 drops, 10 drops, and 20 drops.
Add 5 ml of distilled water to each tube.
Add 5 ml of a 3% solution of H2O2 to each tube.
Add 5 drops of catalase to the first tube. Cover the top with parafilm, and invert quickly to mix.
Pour the test tube contents into the plastic bottle, insert the oxygen gas probe, and collect data for 180
seconds.
7. Clean out the bottle, and repeat with the other 2 test tubes, adding 10 drops of catalase and 20 drops of
catalase respectively.

Procedure 2: Determining the Effect of pH on Enzymatic Activity

Materials
Catalase
1.5% hydrogen peroxide
Buffers with range of pH
Distilled (deionized water)
3 test tubes and appropriate test tube rack
5 ml graduated pipettes or cylinders
Oxygen gas sensor
Labquest data collector
This time you will substitute a different pH buffer for the distilled water used in the original tubes. Prepare the
tubes as follows and be sure to label them.
1. Obtain 3 test tubes, and label them.
2. Add 5 ml of the appropriate pH buffer to each tube.
3. Add 5 ml of a 3% solution of H2O2 to each tube
4. For the first test tube, add the number of drops of catalase that you chose. Cover the top with parafilm,
and invert quickly to mix.
5. Pour the test tube contents into the plastic bottle, insert the oxygen gas probe, and collect data for 180
seconds. Clean out the bottle, and repeat with the other 2 test tubes.
For each of your variables (enzyme concentration and pH), graph your data. You should have 3 lines on each
graph.
Procedure 3: Designing and Conducting your Investigation
You now have the basic information and tools needed to explore enzymes in more depth on your own. In this
part of the lab, you will do just that. You will have the chance to develop and test your own hypotheses about
enzyme activity. To help you get started, read the following questions, and write your answers.
Design and conduct an experiment to investigate an answer(s) to one of the questions above or another
question that might have been raised as you thought about Procedures 1 and 2. Remember, the primary
objective of the investigation is to explore how biotic and abiotic factors influence the rate of enzymatic
reactions.

Analyzing Results
From the data that you collected from your independent investigation, graph the results.

Name :___________________________________________________ Date: ____________ Period: ______

Prelab Questions
1. In Procedure 1, you will measure the oxygen gas levels at different enzyme concentrations. Write a
hypothesis that your experiment will test.

2. Create a table in which to record your data from Procedure 1.

3. From the results you get in Procedure 1, describe how you will choose which enzyme concentration
you will use for your later assays. (The enzyme concentration that you select will serve as your baseline
for additional investigations.)

4. Numerous variables can be employed to observe the effects on the rate of an enzymatic reaction and
possibly the specific fit of the enzyme with the substrate. What do you predict will occur if the pH in the
reaction changes? How do you justify your prediction?

5. Create a table in which to record your data from Procedure 2.

6. When you use this assay to assess factors that change enzyme activity, which components of the
assay will you change? Which will you keep constant?

7. In Procedure 1, will the limiting factor of your baseline reaction be the enzyme or the substrate? How
could you modify the procedure to answer this question?

8. What are three or four factors that vary in the environment in which organisms live? Which of those
factors do you think could affect enzyme activity? For one of the factors that could affect enzyme
activity, how would you modify your initial assay to test your hypothesis?

For Procedure 3, after discussion with your lab group, write the following:
9. Hypothesis:

10. Materials:

11. Procedure: (*You may fill in enzyme concentration later once its optimized.*)

12.Data Table