Exercise 3: Lactase Activity

Materials

Test tubes
Whole milk
Maltose
Benedict Solution
Lactaid tablets
Mortar and pestle

Procedure:

1. 4 test tubes was obtain. Two about halfway was fill with whole milk. The
other two 1/3 of the way was fill with the maltose solution.
2. Two of them was tested for the presence of glucose by adding Benedict
Solution into the test tubes.
3. A Lactaid tablet was chop into pieces and added 1/2 to each test tube for
another 2 test tube after Benedict solution was added. Swirl and be sure to mix
well.
4. Observe what happens in each test tube after 30 minutes. The enzyme needs
time to work.
5. All of the test tubes need to put into water bath for 2 minutes. If there is no
changes after heating, put it into 70C water bath and was heated another 2
minutes.
6. The presence of glucose was tested at the end of the time period for each test
tube and results was recorded.

Result:
 Test Tube Colour Changes Glucose present at Did enzyme work
the end of the test

Plain Milk No Colour Change No -

Maltose Colourless to light Yes -
green
Plain Milk + No Colour Change No No
Lactaid Tablet
Maltose + Lactaid Colourless to Yes Yes
Tablet Yellow

Discussion- Lactase Activity

From the experiment that was carried out, the result was obtained is in test tube 1
which contains plain milk and Benedict solution, there is no colour changes and no
glucose present at the end of the experiment. It also does not contain any enzymatic
activity due to absent of lactate tablet.

Next, in test tube 2 which contain Maltose solution and Benedict solution shows
the colour changes from colourless to light green after heated for the second heating
under 70C in water bath. It shows the presence on glucose in this test tube. It also
does not contain any enzymatic activity since no lactate tablet was added.

After that, for the test tube no 3 which contain plain milk, Benedict solution and
lactate tablet, there is no colour changes after take out from water bath. This is due to
the major carbohydrate in the milk is Lactose. Lactose is a disaccharide composed of
glucose and galactose. Thus there is no glucose presence at the end of the test and the
lactate tablet which act as enzyme does not work in this test.

The next test tube is test tube 4 which contain Maltose solution, Benedict solution
and lactate tablet. In this test tube, the colour change from colourless to yellow after
take out from water bath for the second heating process which use 70C water bath
temperature. In this test, the lactate tablet act as enzyme. Enzymes are a class of
protein molecules that act as biological catalysts. The enzyme in this experiment is
lactase, and the reaction it catalyzes is the hydrolysis of the disaccharide lactose into
the monosaccharides galactose and glucose.

Last but not least, in this experiment, the temperature also plays an important
role, it is because the enzymes is a protein, temperature can effect them. Enzyme must
fit its substrate in order to work, so it need a suitable temperature for lactase enzyme
works well.

References:

1. Rebecca. L. J. (2005), The Digestive System: Learn More About The Digestive
System. Lerner Publications. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

2. Bioninja: Chemical Digestion (n.d). Retrieved October 28, 2017,from:

http://ib.bioninja.com.au/standard-level/topic-6-human-physiology/61-digestion-a
nd-absorption/chemical-digestion.html
3. Cyber Sergion: The Digestive System. (n.d). Retrieved October 28, 2017,from:

http://www.e-missions.net/cybersurgeons/?/dig_teacher/

4. Sciencing: The Activity of Lactase. (n.d). Retrieved October 29, 2017,from:

https://sciencing.com/activity-lactase-enzyme-9115.html

5. Tuscany Diet: Physiology And Biochemistry Of Protein Digestion. (n.d).

Retrieved October 29, 2017,from:

http://www.tuscany-diet.net/proteins/digestion/