How does pH affect the activity of enzymes?
In addition to heat, other factors can cause proteins to become denatured. Many of the chemical bonds that hold a protein in its three-dimensional shape are affected by the presence of hydrogen ions (H+). The buffer solutions in the series you will use in this exercise vary in pH. By exposing the enzyme-substrate complex to a range of pH values, you can test the effect of hydrogen ion concentration on enzymatic activity. MATERIALS: 7-10 spectrophotometer tubes & rack; 40C water bath; 10-ml graduated cylinder; 1 % catechol stock solution; catecholase stock solution; pH buffer series (including pH levels of 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 12) PROCEDURAL STEPS: 1. Using the materials listed, design an experiment to test the effect of pH on enzymatic activity. Have it approved by your instructor. 2. Record your hypothesis and methods in item F of your worksheet. Once approved, perform your experiment and collect the data. 3. As in the previous exercises, agitate the solutions at the beginning of the
