enzymes

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Enzyme activity
Introduction
Enzymes are the catalysts which speed up chemical reactions. Their compounds are proteins, and their role is essential for digestion of carbohydrates and lipids. The best-known enzymes belong to the digestive system, and they break down substances into their compounds so that their absorption in the small intestine is successful. That is because complex substances cannot pass the cellular membrane and pass through the small intestine to the bloodstream to nourish the body. For example, amylase breaks down starch into sugars; maltase breaks maltose into glucose and lactase breaks lactose into galactose and glucose (Newman, npag). However, enzymes can accomplish their goal only under particular conditions of temperature and pH. During a chemical reaction, a molecule called the substrate binds itself to the active site of the enzyme (Newman, npag). If a substance inhibits this binding to the enzyme’s active site, then this substance is called an inhibitor, and the reaction is canceled (Newman, npag).
Hypothesis
During the first experiment, the activity of the enzyme lactase was tested when the milk was provided as the substrate. The hypothesis was about whether lactase could break down lactose, which is sugar in milk, galactose, and glucose. It was expected that the result would confirm the above-mentioned hypothesis. As it is mentioned above, the existing studies and research have confirmed that this is the way lactose acts to produce glucose and galactose, since only simple sugars can be absorbed in the bloodstream (Newman, npag).

During the subsequent experiment, the hypothesis referred to enzyme inhibition. It was about whether EDTA, which is a metal ion binder, can act as an inhibitor in case lactase needs a metal ion as a cofactor. The hypothesis was that EDTA would bind to the cofactor and remove ions. As a result, lactase would not be able to break down, so the reaction would be inhibited.
According to Greenberg, there are enormous existing gaps of knowledge about enzymes’ activity and biochemistry although much has been made known through scientific research (Greenberg 61). This is because enzymes do not act the same way under different conditions and they also act differently when combined with different substances (Greenberg 61).
Works cited
Greenberg, D, Chemical Pathways of Metabolism, New York, Academic Press Inc. 1954
Newman, T, “Enzymes: How they work and what they do,” Medical News Today, 2018
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319704.php. Accessed 2 October 2018