Metabolic pathwaysInvestigating how enzymes effect reaction rate
Metabolism refers to all of the chemical reactions that take place inside living cells. Unicellular and multicellular organisms must control their metabolism in order to survive.
Investigating how the presence of an enzyme affects reaction rate
The enzyme catalase speeds up the degradation of hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen.
Catalase is present in yeast. Its effect on the rate of degradation can be investigated using immobilised yeast beads. Watch the video below to see the correct procedure for carrying out this investigation.
Investigating the effect of changing conditions on enzyme activity
The lab procedure shown above can be used as a basis for experiments in which conditions are altered. Temperature, pH, concentration of enzyme or substrate, and the presence of inhibitors can all be investigated.
Substrate concentration
Watch this video to see how changing the concentration of substrate and how this affects the activity of catalase can be measured.
Changing pH
Watch this video to see how the effect of changing pH on the activity of catalase can be measured.