- Enzymes are proteins that work as catalysts. (breaks down substances)
- The part of its surface where the enzyme links with the substrate (substance being broken down) is called the active site
- Each substance has a specific enzyme to catalyse with. Because of this, the active are of each enzyme is different and has a different structure that matches their specific substrate
- After the substrate and the enzyme collide, the substrate breaks down into smaller pieces and it is released by the enzyme
- This collision requires movement, meaning that the substrate must have been separated to the enzyme and travelled some distance to collide with it. The substrate has to be correctly aligned with the active site do that the canalisation takes placs
Factors affecting enzyme activity rate
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Enzyme Application:
-The concept of using enzymes for purposes other than catalyzation of substances in living organisms started in 1897, when the buchner brothers converted sucrose into alcohol without the use of living organisms (extract of yeast without any yeast cells). This opened the door to immobilised enzymes used for many type of biological industries.
-Because of the popularity of lactose-intolerance, many lactose-free products have emerged to the market. Being lactose-intolerant means that your body does not produce lactase, the enzyme required to convert lactose into glucose and digest it. To create lactose-free milk one must first obtain lactase from a type of yeast called Kluveromyces lactis. The lactase is then used to catalyse lactose into glucose or galactose
TOK: Development of some techniques benefits particular human populations more than others. For example, the development of lactose-free milk available in Europe and North America would have greater benefit in Africa/Asia where lactose intolerance is more prevalent. The development of techniques requires financial investment. Should knowledge be shared when techniques developed in one part of the world are more applicable in another?
Yes, I believe that all new knowledge should be shared, especially the ones that can help improve poor health. Even though it required financial support to gain this knowledge, we should consider this sharing of knowledge as a "donation", especially since the problem (in this case lactose-intolerance) is much more severe and could cause more harm to those who don't have the capacity to financially support medical or scientific researches.
-The concept of using enzymes for purposes other than catalyzation of substances in living organisms started in 1897, when the buchner brothers converted sucrose into alcohol without the use of living organisms (extract of yeast without any yeast cells). This opened the door to immobilised enzymes used for many type of biological industries.
-Because of the popularity of lactose-intolerance, many lactose-free products have emerged to the market. Being lactose-intolerant means that your body does not produce lactase, the enzyme required to convert lactose into glucose and digest it. To create lactose-free milk one must first obtain lactase from a type of yeast called Kluveromyces lactis. The lactase is then used to catalyse lactose into glucose or galactose
TOK: Development of some techniques benefits particular human populations more than others. For example, the development of lactose-free milk available in Europe and North America would have greater benefit in Africa/Asia where lactose intolerance is more prevalent. The development of techniques requires financial investment. Should knowledge be shared when techniques developed in one part of the world are more applicable in another?
Yes, I believe that all new knowledge should be shared, especially the ones that can help improve poor health. Even though it required financial support to gain this knowledge, we should consider this sharing of knowledge as a "donation", especially since the problem (in this case lactose-intolerance) is much more severe and could cause more harm to those who don't have the capacity to financially support medical or scientific researches.