BI-131
Effect of temperature and pH on enzymes
Biology · Secondary 3 · Hard · Effect of temperature and pH on enzymes
Pepsin is a protease found in the stomach. A student investigates how temperature affects its activity on protein. At 37 °C, pepsin breaks down 10 g of protein in 5 minutes. At 47 °C, it breaks down only 4 g of protein in 5 minutes. Which statement best explains this change?
- Pepsin is completely denatured at 47 °C so no protein can be digested.
- Higher temperature always slows enzyme activity, so less protein is digested.
- Some pepsin molecules are denatured at 47 °C, so fewer active sites are available to digest protein.
- Protein molecules move more slowly at 47 °C, so they collide less often with pepsin.
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