Enzymes+class+activity

** DISCUSSION **
The following are represented by:


 * 1) Enzyme - my friend's hand which was prying open the black balls
 * 2) Substrate - black balls
 * 3) Water - Coloured balls
 * 4) Coenzyme - My friend's helper
 * 5) Competitive inhibitor - Tennis ball and masking tape

=** ANALYSIS QUESTIONS **=

1. In ** trial 1 **, why did the rate eventually decrease? What could have been added to maintain the initial rate? All the black balls have been broken apart by my friend's hands. Hence, after all the black balls have been broken apart, there will be none left to be broken apart. Therefore the rate eventually decreased. This is akin to the enzymes and substrates undergoing catabolic reactions in our body. When all the substrates have been hydrolized by the enzymes, the solution becomes saturated, hence the rate will come to a standstill.

2. If a huge number of black balls were added will it change the maximum rate? Why? Yes. The higher the amount of substrates, the higher the rate of enzymatic activity until saturation is reached. Hence, when more black balls are added, the maximum rate will increase as well.

3. Coloured balls were removed in ** trial 2 **. What does this simulate? How does that affect the rate of enzyme reaction? Coloured balls represent the water molecules and other substances in the solution adjacent to the active site of the enzyme. Hence, when some of the coloured balls are removed, it simulates a higher concentration of substrates to be catalyzed by the enzymes. This means that there is a higher chance of collision between the substrates and the enzymes, so catabolic reactions can happen more frequently, increasing the rate of enzyme reaction.

4. How else could you change the rate of reaction? Other factors which affect the rate of enzyme reaction includes temperature, pH value and number of enzymes. The higher the temperature, the faster the rate of reaction, until the temperature is high enough to denature the enzymes. Highly acidic or alkaline conditions may cause an enzyme to be denatured, changing the shape of its active site. The higher the number of enzymes, the higher the rate of reaction. According to the simulation game, perhaps more helpers can help to pry open the black balls.

5. Why does an active site not work as well if its active site is changed? When an enzyme's active site is changed, the shape of the substrate does not fit with the active site of the enzyme. Hence, catabolic or anabolic reactions cannot take place.

6. What environmental factors affect enzyme shape? Temperature - when the temperature becomes too high, the enzyme will be denatured. They lose their 3D shape and can no longer bind to their substrate. pH - When exposed to highly acidic or alkaline conditions, the enzyme will also be denatured. Competitive inhibitors - they block the active site of the enzyme, causing it to become unable to bind with other substrates. Non-competitive inhibitors - they cause a conformational change in the shape of the enzyme, causing active site to bulge.

7. How might chemical affect you if they act like the tennis ball during your bodily reactions? Some chemicals like poison act as competitive inhibitors (tennis ball) which are "fixed" onto the active site of the enzyme, causing it to become unable to bind with substrates and break them down.