Question

How can environmental conditions such as salt concentration, temperature, and pH physically affect the enzyme itself?

A) Ions can bind to the active sites of enzymes, preventing the binding of substrate.
B) Changes in temperature change the rate at which molecules interact with the enzyme.
C) All these factors can disrupt the weak bonds that hold the enzyme in its active conformation.
D) These factors affect only the substrate.

Answer 1

Environmental factors such as temperature, pH, and salt concentration affect enzyme activity by altering the enzyme's structure and function, which can lead to a decrease in activity or denaturation.

Step-by-step explanation:

Environmental conditions such as temperature, pH levels, and salt concentration can affect enzymes in various ways. Enzymes are proteins that catalyze biochemical reactions and are therefore sensitive to changes in their surroundings.

For temperature, while a moderate increase may speed up reactions, extreme temperatures, especially high ones, can lead to denaturation, which is a process where the enzyme's three-dimensional structure is irreversibly altered, rendering it non-functional. This is due to the unraveling of the delicate balance of forces that maintain the protein's shape, especially within the active site where substrate binding occurs.

The pH level affects enzymes by influencing the state of ionization of amino acids at the active site. Extreme pH levels can denature enzymes, similar to the effects of temperature. Enzymes have an optimal pH at which they function most effectively, and deviations from this pH can reduce enzyme activity and potentially lead to denaturation.

High salt concentration can affect enzyme activity by altering ionic bonds and interactions, which can distort the enzyme's structure and function. Ions from salts can also compete with substrate molecules for binding at the active site, reducing enzyme activity.