Life Sciences ORT The effect of pH level on Catalase Primary research Table of Contents Section A Introduction……………………………………………………….Page 2 Concept Diagram…………………………………………………Page 3 Literature Reviews………………………………………………. Page 4 Topic & Methodology…………………………………………….Page 5 Process of the Experiment ……………………………………..Page 7 Observations, Results & Conclusions…………………………Page 13 Analysis…………………………………………………………...Page 14 Reflection ………………………………………………………...Page 15 Section B Final Draft Introduction I have chosen to do my ORT in Life Sciences because I felt that it was an area where I would be able to learn the most and also a topic which I knew very little about, and for me the main purpose of education is to further expand your own horizons through the work you do. The other reason I felt doing my ORT in Life Sciences was because it was a subject I have always been interested in but have never achieved to what I felt was a sufficient level and I wish to raise that level through this research process Concept Diagram Literature Review Reference 1 Catalase, an enzyme that brings about (catalyzes) the reaction by which hydrogen peroxide is decomposed to water and oxygen. Found extensively in mammalian tissues, catalase prevents the accumulation of and protects the body tissues from
To begin with, I’m taking Advanced Placement Biology because I want to challenge. I want to be able to step out of my comfort zone so that I can really see what I’m capable of accomplishing. I strongly believe
Catalase is an important enzyme that protects cells from oxidative damage, which hydrogen peroxide can cause. It is an incredibly efficient enzyme where one catalase molecule can convert millions of hydrogen peroxide molecules each second.
This investigation will be carried out to investigate the rate of reaction of the enzyme catalase on the substrate hydrogen peroxide.
Lab six requires students to observe the effects of pH and enzyme concentration on catecholase activity. Enzymes are organic catalysts that can affect the rate of a chemical reaction depending on the pH level and the concentration of the enzyme. As pH comes closer to a neutral pH the enzyme is at its greatest effectiveness. Also at the absorbance of a slope of 0.0122 the enzyme is affected greatly. The pH effect on enzymes can be tested by trying each pH level with a pH buffer of the same pH as labeled as the test tube and 1mL of potato juice, water, and catechol. This is all mixed together and put in the spectrophotometer to test how much is being absorbed at 420nm. As the effect on enzyme concentration can be tested almost the same way. This part of the exercise uses different amounts of pH 7-phosphate buffer and potato juice, and 1mL of catechol mixed together in a test tube. Each substance is put in the spectrophotometer at a wavelength set tot 420nm. The results are put down for every minute up to six minutes to see how enzyme concentration affects reaction rate. The results show that the pH 8 (0.494) affects the enzyme more than a pH of 4 (0.249), 6 (0.371), 7 (0.456), and 10 (0.126). Also the absorbance is greatest at a slope of 0.0122 with test tube C that has more effect on the reaction rate, than test tube A, B, and D.
The purpose of this experiment was to record catalase enzyme activity with different temperatures and substrate concentrations. It was hypothesized that, until all active sites were bound, as the substrate concentration increased, the reaction rate would increase. The first experiment consisted of five different substrate concentrations, 0.8%, 0.4%, 0.2%, 0.1%, and 0% H2O2. The second experiment was completed using 0.8% substrate concentration and four different temperatures of enzymes ranging from cold to boiled. It was hypothesized that as the temperature increased, the reaction rate would increase. This would occur until the enzyme was denatured. The results from the two experiments show that the more substrate concentration,
Firstly, I want to follow my passion for the medical field with a biology degree. It will help me to get a good foundation when I get into pharmacy school. Choosing biology as my major is a good opportunity for me to learn new things that are a benefit later when I take the PCAT. At some point, the researchers have shown that people completed in a four-year program to receive a Bachelor of Science degree in biology, chemistry, or in the familiar field would get higher chances of admission to the pharmacy and medical school. So, I need to work hard for it.
To make the buffer solution you need 0.2 mol dm-3 of Na2HPO4 and 0.1mol dm-3 of citric acid this will give 100cm3 of buffer. Here is how to get the different pH in the buffer solutions:
With all living organisms, a process known as cell respiration is integral in order to provide the body with an essential form of energy, adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Oxygen, although an essential part of this process, can form reactants from colliding with electrons associated with carrier molecules. (pb101.rcsb.org, 2017). Hydrogen peroxide is an integral product of this reaction but is known to impose negative effects on the body if high levels are introduced. Explicitly, this reaction is caused “If oxygen runs into (one of these) carrier molecules, the electron may be accidentally transferred to it. This converts oxygen into dangerous compounds such as superoxide radicals and hydrogen peroxide, which can attack the delicate sulphur atoms and metal ions in proteins.” (pdbh101.rcb.org, 2017). Research has suggested that the hydrogen peroxide can be converted into hydroxyl radicals, known to mutate DNA, which can potentially cause bodily harm due to DNA’s role in the synthesis of proteins. These radicals can cause detrimental effects on the human body, and studies have suggested a link to ageing. Due to the harmful effects of these H2o2, it is important that the body finds a way to dispose of hydrogen peroxide before concentrations are too great.
Catechol, in the presence of oxygen is oxidized by catechol oxidase to form benzoquinone (Harel et al., 1964). Bananas and potatoes contain catechol oxidase that acts on catechol which is initially colorless and converts it to brown (Harel et al., 1964). In this experiment, the effect of pH on the activity of catechol oxidase was conducted using buffers ranging from pH2 to pH10. Two trials were conducted due to the first trial results being altered by an external factor. The results were acquired by taking readings every 2 minutes for 20 minutes from a spectrophotometer and then recorded on to the table. The data collected in the table were then made into graphs to illustrate the influence of pH on the catechol oxidase catalyzed reaction. After analysis, the data revealed that pH did have a significant influence on the enzyme as recorded by absorbance per minute. However, the data was collected was not accurate due to external factors, thus the results are debatable and should be experimented again for validation.
I am a pre-medical student and my major is biological and physical sciences. My interest in science originated in medical school was for two reasons. The first reason
Observing how the enzyme catalase found in chicken and beef livers breaks down hydrogen peroxide at varying pH levels and temperatures.
Enzymes are high molecular weight molecules and are proteins in nature. Enzymes work as catalysts in biochemical reactions in living organisms. Enzyme Catecholase is found on in plants, animals as well as fungi and is responsible for the darkening of different fruits. In most cases enzymatic activities are influenced by a number of factors, among them is temperature, PH, enzyme concentration as well as substrate concentration (Silverthorn, 2004). In this experiment enzyme catecholase was used to investigate the effects of PH and enzyme concentration on it rate of reaction. A pH buffer was used to control the PH, potato juice was used as the substrate and water was used as a solvent.
Wear safety goggles to protect the eyes from any splashes and wearing gloves is recommended when handling acids and
generally act as a catalase that initially bring about a chemical reaction.” Enzymes play an
Enzymes, proteins that act as catalysts, are the most important type of protein[1]. Catalysts speed up chemical reactions and can go without being used up or changed [3] Without enzymes, the biochemical reactions that take place will react too slowly to keep up with the metabolic needs and the life functions of organisms. Catecholase is a reaction between oxygen and catechol [2]. In the presence of oxygen, the removal of two hydrogen atoms oxidizes the compound catechol, as a result of the formation of water [2]. Oxygen is reduced by the addition of two hydrogen atoms, which also forms water, after catechol is