Answer: Enzymes that perform cellular respiration denature.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cellular respiration is a process by which cells convert glucose and oxygen into energy in the form of ATP. This process requires the involvement of several enzymes that catalyze the various biochemical reactions involved in cellular respiration. Enzymes are highly specific in their function and are sensitive to changes in temperature and pH.
At higher temperatures above 40°C, the enzymes involved in cellular respiration become denatured, which means that the three-dimensional structure of the enzyme is disrupted. This leads to the loss of its catalytic activity, and the process of cellular respiration cannot proceed at the same rate as before.
Denaturation occurs because the heat breaks the weak bonds that hold the protein structure together, causing the enzyme to lose its shape and function. Once the enzyme is denatured, it cannot catalyze the chemical reactions of cellular respiration effectively, and the rate of cellular respiration decreases quickly.
Therefore, it is important for cells to maintain a relatively constant temperature to ensure that the enzymes involved in cellular respiration can function optimally.