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:

Temperature

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).
pH (measure of acidity)

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
1

The Nature & Variety of Living Organisms

2

Structure & Functions in Living Organisms

3

Organism Functions

3.1

Respiration

3.2

Gas Exchange

3.3

Transport

3.4

Excretion

3.5

Coordination & Response

4

Reproduction & Inheritance

5

Ecology

6

Biological Resources

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