Final answer:
Excessive temperatures above the optimal range cause enzymes to denature, leading to the irreversible loss of their activity due to changes in the three-dimensional structure. Denaturation affects the enzyme's active site, preventing it from effectively catalyzing reactions. Maintaining homeostasis is crucial for enzyme function.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the temperature rises too far above the optimal temperature for enzymes, which is generally between 37°C and 40°C for human enzymes, these biological catalysts begin to lose their activity and may become completely inactive at higher temperatures.
This loss of activity occurs due to the process known as denaturation, which irreversibly changes the enzyme's three-dimensional structure. Denaturation of enzymes is due to the breaking of the weak bonds that maintain the protein's structure, leading to a loss of its active site and, consequently, its catalytic function.
Heat-induced enzyme denaturation is a critical factor in processes such as fever, where a rise in body temperature can temporarily increase metabolic activity, and in treatments like organ transplantation and open heart surgery, where hypothermia is induced to reduce enzymatic action and protect tissues.
Furthermore, both excessive heat and extreme environmental pH can cause enzymes to denature, highlighting the importance of maintaining homeostasis and thermoregulation in the body. Enzymes thrive within a specific temperature and pH range, and deviations from these conditions can impair their efficiency and stability.