2.4 Enzymes

In humans, the enzyme sucrase hydrolyses sucrose. This reaction occurs in the small intestine at 37°C.

Explain why sucrase can only hydrolyse sucrose.

[2]

Describe how sucrase enables this reaction to take place at normal body temperature.

[2]

A solution containing sucrose and sucrase was divided equally between two test tubes. One test tube (A) was heated to a temperature of 85°C, and the other (B) was kept at 37°C, as shown in the diagram below. Both test tubes were monitored for 30 minutes.

Identify which test tube(s) would contain monosaccharides.

[1]

Explain your answer in part (i).

[2]

Suggest two sources of error that could arise from an experiment to measure the effect of temperature on the rate of an enzyme-controlled reaction.

Assume that in this experiment, the dependent variable is measured as the volume of a gas produced.  

A significant amount of research has been conducted on the enzyme composition of extremophile microorganisms, in order to discover new enzymes that can be used in the home in extreme conditions. One such organism, Planococcus halocryophilus, is a psychrophile (it grows at cold temperatures around 0°C). Trials with the enzymes of P. halocryophilus have discovered applications of these enzymes in the detergent industry. 

Suggest how these trial results are encouraging for the laundry detergent industry.  

Many commercially-produced biological laundry detergents contain a range of different enzymes.

Explain why a range of enzymes can improve the detergent’s performance in the home. 

Papain is a proteolytic enzyme derived from the papaya fruit. It has been used in contact lens cleaning solutions to remove denatured protein-containing deposits that accumulate on the surfaces of contact lenses during long periods of wear. The periodic removal of protein deposits increases wearer comfort and extends the wearing time.

The main protein component of tear film fluid is lysozyme.

Suggest a reason for the presence of lysozyme in tear film fluid.  

Lysozyme and other proteins present in tear film fluid can denature rapidly when in contact with contact lens material. This denatured material loses its original function and forms deposits on the lens surface.

Describe the mode of action of papain against the denatured protein deposits on the surfaces of the contact lenses.

[1]

Explain the effect that the action of papain would have on these contact lens deposits.

[1]

The enzyme glucoamylase is a catabolic enzyme that hydrolyses the α-1,4 glycosidic bonds in starch to produce glucose for use in industry. 

The enzyme used in this process can be covalently bonded to a substrate of beads to become immobilised. Once immobilised they are able to be used in 11 successive cycles before they need to be replaced. 

Suggest a potential method that could be used to determine whether the immobilised enzymes need to be replaced. 

Glucoamylase has an optimum temperature of 60°C when free in solution, however when it is immobilised the optimum temperature is raised to between 60°C and 80°C.

Explain why this is an advantage to the manufacturers using this immobilised enzyme to produce glucose. 

Some scientists think that the reason for the increase in optimum temperature of the immobilised enzyme is due to the covalent bonding between the enzyme and the beads that hold them in position. They believe that covalent bonding helps to reduce the influence of high kinetic energy on the bonds within the enzyme structure. 

Suggest how this would cause the enzyme to have a higher optimum temperature. 

One of the sources of glucoamylase for this process is from a species of fungi called Aspergillus niger. 

Aspergillus niger is a saprotroph. 

Suggest two advantages of using saprotrophic fungi as a source of enzymes for the industry. 

One mark is available for clarity of communication throughout this question. 

Outline how changes in substrate concentration affects the rate of enzyme action. 

Sometimes the active site of enzymes can be blocked or "inhibited" by substances that aren't the specific substrate for that enzyme. 

Suggest how this would affect the rate of reaction of an enzyme-catalysed reaction as well as some possible uses of enzyme inhibitors in medicine. 

Plan an investigation to determine how changing the temperature of amylase affects the rate of reaction of the digestion of starch to maltose. 

A protease is an enzyme that digests protein. A research scientist isolated protease C from a particular species of bacteria. The researcher investigated the effect of temperature on the rate of hydrolysis of a protein by protease C.  The unprocessed results can be seen in the table below.

Calculate (with appropriate units) the missing details in the table above.   

Draw a graph of the results seen in part (a). Your graph should include an accurate scale and correct axis labels.

Suggest how the research scientist controlled the pH throughout the experiment.

Explain the aspect of enzyme and substrate structure that enables successful catalysis of a biochemical reaction.

The sketch graph below shows how the rate of an enzyme-catalysed reaction varies for two separate independent variables. For curve A the independent variable is the concentration of enzyme.

Identify the independent variable for Curve B.

The sketch graph below shows how the rate of an enzyme-catalysed reaction varies as temperature changes.

Explain the rates of reaction at positions A, B, and C on the curve. 

Enzymes can be used in various industrial processes.

Suggest one reason why the use of enzymes in industry offers a commercial benefit over non-enzymatic processes.

The diagram below shows a typical packed-bed immobilised enzyme reactor for a continuous production process in the food industry.

State three benefits of using immobilised enzymes, as opposed to enzymes that are allowed to mix freely with the substrate.

The process of binding an enzyme to an immobile matrix for the purposes of enzyme immobilisation has, in some cases, led to a reduction in the enzyme's activity level.

Suggest, with a reason, how the process of immobilisation could cause the change in enzyme activity after immobilisation.

One mark is available for clarity of communication throughout this question.

The sketch graph below shows the effects of varying the level of the independent variable, X, on the rate of an enzyme-controlled reaction. Lines A, B, and C represent three different independent variables which could be X. 

Outline the method used in the production of lactose-free milk from dairy milk. 

An experiment was set up to investigate the effect of temperature on an enzyme-catalysed reaction in which the reaction mixture changes from clear-colourless to clear-dark blue as the reaction progresses.

Describe: