Question

Which statement best identifies the role of the enzymes known as proteases in the two scenarios described above?

A. Many contact lenses must be removed each night and soaked in a solution purchased at a pharmacy.
B. The lenses should not be worn at night while sleeping and should be discarded after 2-3 weeks of wearing them.
C. Many contact lens solutions contain proteases, which are enzymes.
D. Proteases are also enzymes found in different meat tenderizers, which are cooking additives that make meat more easily cut, cooked, and manipulated.

Answer 1

Proteases are enzymes that hydrolyze proteins into smaller peptides, which is essential in various applications such as cleaning contact lenses and tenderizing meat. They work by increasing reaction rates and have specific targets, contributing to their effectiveness in both industrial and biological processes.

Step-by-step explanation:

The role of proteases, a group of enzymes, is quite significant in both household and biological settings. These enzymes specialize in the hydrolysis of peptide bonds within protein molecules, breaking these complex macromolecules down into smaller peptides or amino acids. This biochemical process is facilitated by proteases by substantially speeding up the reaction rates without being consumed in the process.

In the context of cleaning contact lenses, proteases are added to contact lens solutions to remove protein build-ups on the lenses. Similarly, in the food industry, meat tenderizers often contain proteases, such as papain, which helps to break down tough protein fibers in meat, making it more tender. Proteases are also crucial in our digestive system where they catalyze the breakdown of proteins into absorbable forms, aiding in nutrition absorption.

These enzymes, despite their effectiveness, have limitations such as high specificity, meaning that they target specific reactants, and decreased functionality at temperatures higher than 37 °C, which is slightly lower than the human body temperature. Nevertheless, proteases have found widespread use because of their ability to effectively cleave proteins in various applications. The statement that best identifies the role of proteases in the given scenarios would be that many contact lens solutions and meat tenderisers contain proteases, which cleave proteins and facilitate the respective cleaning and tenderising processes.