Enzyme Controlled Reaction Lab

1. Describe the relationship between substrate concentration and

the initial reaction rate of an enzyme-catalyzed reaction. Is
this a linear relationship? What happens to the initial reaction
rate as substrate concentration increases?
As the amount of substrate increases up to 4.0g, the initial reaction
rate also increases. This is not a linear relationship. Once the substrate
surpasses 4.0g, the initial reaction rate does not continue to increase.
Between concentrations of 0.0g-4.0g the initial reaction rate increases. After
that, the initial reaction rate does not increase.
2. What is the maximum initial reaction rate for the lactase
enzyme at pH 7?
The maximum initial reaction rate for the lactase enzyme at pH 7 is
350
3. Explain why the maximum initial reaction rate cannot be
reached at low lactose concentrations.
The maximum initial reaction rate cannot be reached at low lactose
concentration since there is not enough lactose for it to reach it's optimal
reaction rate.
4. What does your data indicate about the optimum pH level for
this lactase-catalyzed reaction?
A pH level of 7 is the most effective pH level to produce product.
5. Enzymes function most efficiently at the temperature of a
typical cell, which is 37 degrees Celsius. Increases or
decreases in temperature can significantly lower the reaction
rate. What does this suggest about the importance of
temperature-regulating mechanisms in organisms? Explain.
If there was no temperature-regulating mechanism, enzyme catalysed
reactions would occur at a lower rate or not at all. Enzyme catalysed
reactions are important for organisms to function properly. Without it,
important chemical reactions may be disrupted which can be negative for
organisms.

6. People with a lactose intolerance are able to take products

such as Lactaid that contain the lactase enzyme with their
meals. These products can be taken in pill form. Considering
the fact that the pill form of the enzyme would have to travel
through the person's stomach, what special consideration
would the producer of this product need to be concerned
about?
The producer would have to be concerned about the acidity of the
stomach. The pill would have to be able to withstand the acidity of the
stomach. If it wasn't able to, the pH level would denature the enzyme
rendering the pill useless.

Data Table
Amount of
Substrate
0.5g
1.0g
2.0g
4.0g
8.0g

pH3

pH5

pH7

pH9

pH11

19
39
82
96
96

39
81
168
198
198

72
145
300
350
350

45
91
189
223
223

24
49
103
121
121