2.2.5

Rate of Enzyme Action

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Factors Affecting the Rate of Enzyme Action

The factors that affect the rate (speed) of enzyme action are:

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Temperature

  • Increasing the temperature of a working enzyme initially increases the reacting activity.
  • Enzymes have an optimum temperature. Once this temperature is reached, the activity decreases.
  • Past a certain temperature, the active site changes shape, and the enzyme is denatured (loses its catalytic activity).
Illustrative background for pH (measure of acidity)Illustrative background for pH (measure of acidity) ?? "content

pH (measure of acidity)

  • Enzymes have an optimum pH (measure of acidity).
  • If the pH changes away from the optimum pH, then the enzyme activity decreases.
  • If the pH is too low or too high, then the enzyme is denatured and will not function.

Jump to other topics

1The Nature & Variety of Living Organisms

2Structure & Functions in Living Organisms

3Organism Functions

3.1Respiration

3.2Gas Exchange

3.3Transport

3.4Excretion

3.5Coordination & Response

4Reproduction & Inheritance

5Ecology

6Biological Resources

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