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(a) (i) To which group of biomolecules do enzymes belong? (ii) Name a factor that influences the activity of an enzyme - Leaving Cert Biology - Question 9 - 2009
Question 9
(a) (i) To which group of biomolecules do enzymes belong? (ii) Name a factor that influences the activity of an enzyme. (b) In the course of your practical inve... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:(a) (i) To which group of biomolecules do enzymes belong? (ii) Name a factor that influences the activity of an enzyme - Leaving Cert Biology - Question 9 - 2009
Step 1
Step 2
Name a factor that influences the activity of an enzyme.
Answer
One significant factor that influences the activity of an enzyme is temperature. Enzymes have an optimal temperature range where their activity is maximized, and deviations from this range can lead to decreased activity or denaturation.
Step 3
Describe how you carried out the immobilisation.
Answer
In the enzyme immobilisation process, I used a named enzyme, such as yeast, and mixed it with alginate. The mixture was then added to a calcium chloride (CaCl₂) solution, allowing the alginate to form beads in which the enzyme was encapsulated. The beads were allowed to harden, effectively immobilising the enzyme for further experiments.
Step 4
In the space provided draw a labelled diagram of the apparatus that you used to investigate the activity of the immobilised enzyme.
Answer
The apparatus used to investigate the activity of the immobilised enzyme typically includes a reaction chamber, where the enzyme beads are placed, and a substrate delivery system. Beads labelled as 'immobilised enzyme' are shown along with 'substrate solution', 'product collection', and a 'stopwatch' for timing the reactions.
Step 5
Briefly outline how you used the apparatus referred to in (b)(ii) above.
Answer
To use the apparatus, I added the substrate solution to the immobilised enzyme beads within the reaction chamber. The reaction was monitored by testing for the named product at set intervals. Various assays were conducted to determine the activity of the enzyme over time.