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Activity #5 ENZYMES

Discussion:
Hydrolase is an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of a particular substrate. (Bennett,
1969). For the experiment, hydrolase is categorized into two types: Amylase and Sucrase.
Amylase is an enzyme that aids in the breakdown of carbohydrates by breaking the bonds
between sugar molecules in polysaccharides through a hydrolysis reaction. Starch molecules
form a structure that has small spaces in between the molecules of sugar. Lugols solution
contains iodine molecules that fit tightly inside these small spaces. When the iodine molecules
are inside these small spaces between bonded sugar molecules, the iodine looks blue-black in
color.
Sucrase, another type of hydrolase, is an enzyme that catalyze the hydrolysis of sucrose
to the simple sugars glucose and fructose. Sucrose which consists of glucose and fructose bonded
together, binds to the active site on sucrase, and this puts stress on the bond between the 2 sugars
that make up sucrose. The bond breaks, releasing glucose and fructose. The solution appeared
brick red after exposed to Benedicts Solution. Thus it was positive for the Benedicts test due to
presence of glucose and fructose, both reducing sugars.
On the other hand, oxidoreductase are enzymes that catalyze the transfer of electrons
from one molecule to another molecule. (Harrow, 1958) Dehydrogenase, an example of
oxidoreductase, removes the hydrogen atoms from a molecule. The change in color intensity
from dark to lighter color is due to the occurrence of cellular respiration for the mung sprouts.
During cellular respiration, particularly in Krebs Cycle, dehydrogenases are being used such as
isocitrate dehydrogenase - an enzyme that catalyzes the oxidative decarboxylation of isocitrate,
producing alpha-ketoglutarate and CO2.
Catalases are enzymes that catalyze the conversion of hydrogen peroxide (H 2O2) to water
and molecular oxygen, thereby protecting cells from the toxic effects of hydrogen peroxide
(McDowall, 2001). The presence of bubbles indicates the presence of H 2O2 produced by
peroxisome during respiration. Bubbles disappeared after boiling the potato strip due to catalase
by converting H2O2 to H2O and O2.
The rate of reaction of enzymes increases as the concentration of substrate increases. But
once the maximum velocity for a reaction was reached, there will be no changes in the rate
enzymatic activity (Stoker, 2010). Moreover, the enzymatic activity is directly proportional to
hydrogen concentration. It may increase of decrease the reaction depending on the amount of
hydrogen molecules.

References:
Bennett, T. P., and Frieden, E.: Modern Topics in Biochemistry, pg. 43-45, Macmillan,
London (1969).

Harrow, B., and Mazur, A.: Textbook of Biochemistry, 109, Saunders, Philadelphia
(1958).
Stoker, St, : General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry, 5th. Biochemistry (Oakland
Community College) 2010.

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