Final answer:
Changes in enzyme activity can be related to disease symptoms, as these changes can lead to abnormal metabolic levels. The activity of enzymes can increase or decrease, often being a factor in the manifestation of disease symptoms. Temperature, pH, and inhibitors are among factors that can affect this activity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The change in enzyme activity is often related to the symptoms of a disease because enzymes play a critical role in metabolic pathways. If the activity of enzymes is altered, either through increase or decrease, it can lead to abnormal levels of metabolites, which in turn can cause disease symptoms.
For example, a disease might increase the activity of specific enzymes, leading to overproduction of certain substances that are normally limited in the body. Conversely, diseases can also decrease the activity of specific enzymes, causing a build-up of substrates that are not properly processed, or slow down the pathway significantly, leading to reduced production of necessary compounds.
Some factors that affect enzyme activity include temperature, pH, and the presence of inhibitors. At higher temperatures, enzymes may become denatured and lose activity, which can reflect as symptoms in fever or heat-related illnesses. If the pH is not at the optimal level, enzyme activity can decrease, which can be a symptom in diseases that cause acidosis or alkalosis.
Inhibitors can bind to enzymes, which generally results in the inactivation of the enzyme. This can be seen in cases where toxins or drugs interfere with enzyme function, leading to disease symptoms. Disease states can therefore either increase or decrease enzyme activity; they rarely leave it unchanged.