Transcript DAY 1
Enzyme Reactions in Living
Organisms
DAY 1: DEMONSTRATION and LAB
GUIDED QUESTIONS
1. Give an overview of the function of an enzyme. Pull in specific examples of
enzymes found in the human body and their function.
2. Describe the general structure of an enzyme. List and describe the following
parts: amino acids, protein folding, substrate, product, and active site.
3. Explain hydrogen peroxide and its role in cell health. How is it produced in the
body and explain its purpose and/or lack of purpose (review article if needed).
Image courtesy of: http://www.biologycorner.com/APbiology/intro/notes_ch6-metabolics.html
DAY 1: DEMONSTRATION
OVERALL REACTION
Is Catalase the same enzyme as
Peroxidase?
Catalase is a member of the peroxidase family that
specifically uses hydrogen peroxide as a substrate,
hence it could be called "Hydrogen Peroxidase":
however, so does Peroxidase (also called
Myeloperoxidase). The major difference between
Catalase and Peroxidase is that Catalase generates
water and Oxygen, while Peroxidase generates water
and an another activated donor molecule. So "Hydrogen
Peroxidase" could actually refer to more than one
enzyme without identifying the more important aspect of
the reaction: how our enzyme is measured.
PROCEDURE
(STEP 1)
• Measure approximately 5 mL of hydrogen peroxide into
a clean test tube.
• Is the hydrogen peroxide bubbling?
PROCEDURE (STEP 2)
• Measure 5 mL of liver solution into the other clean test
tube. Pour the test tube with the hydrogen peroxide into
the test tube holding the liver solution.
• Notice that this reaction produces bubbles. What gas do you
think is being released and why?
• How could you test for the identity of the gas?
PROCEDURE (STEP 3)
• Recall that a reaction that absorbs heat is endothermic;
a reaction that gives off heat is exothermic. Now feel the
temperature of the test tubes with your hand.
• Has the test tube gotten warmer or cooler?
• Is the reaction endothermic or exothermic?
REFLECTION
• What do you think is happening in the test tube to cause this
reaction to happen?
• What do you think would happen if you added more hydrogen
peroxide?
Let’s Make Our Model
How do enzymes work?
ADD THE FOLLOWING TO YOUR
RESEARCH JOURNAL:
• The Research Question: Do all living organisms
perform a similar reaction when combined with hydrogen
peroxide?
• Null Hypothesis: There is no significant difference in
the rate of reaction (mL/sec) between the peroxidase
found in different living organisms.
• Alternate Hypothesis 1: (If/Then/Because):
• Think about ranking the four different tissues (potato, yeast, liver,
and spinach)
• Independent (experimental groups)/dependent variables
(units):
• Control and constants
MATERIALS:
• Stop watch
• Tubing
• Thistle tube
• Stopper
• (2) 10 mL graduated cylinder
• (1) 100 mL graduated cylinder
• (1) pneumatic trough or shallow pan
• (1) 250 mL beakers
• Dropping pipette
• Premade solutions of varying tissues
• H2O2 solution
PROCEDURE
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Make sure your trough and gas production apparatus are properly set
up.
Fill a pneumatic trough ¾ full of water place the overflow nozzle
towards the sink.
Completely fill and submerge a 100 mL graduated cylinder in the
water upside down in the trough.
Measure 10 mL of hydrogen peroxide (diluted with water by 50) in a
graduated cylinder.
In a second graduated cylinder measure 10 mL of tissue solution.
Remove the stopper and pour the 10 mL of tissue solution into the
thistle tube to add it to the flask. Replace stopper, release pinch
clamp.
Place the mouth of the inverted submerged graduated cylinder
(keeping the mouth of the graduated cylinder under the water) over
the air inlet. Make sure the cylinder is full of water (with limited to no
air pockets).
PROCEDURE
8. Get ready to start the timer. Pour the 10 mL of the hydrogen
peroxide. Gently swirl the contents of the flask.
9. Begin the timer when the first bubble appears in the cylinder and
stop the timer then the bubbles cease.
10. Collect the amount of water displacement (mL) over time (sec) in
the chart below.
11. Replace the pinch clamp
12. Dump the contents of the flask into the labeled container.
13. Wash the flask and repeat steps 1 through 11 using each tissue.
14. Repeat the experiment again for each solution
and share your data with the class.
Lab Set Up with Pneumatic Trough
Lab Set Up with Cylinder in Place Over
The Air Inlet Hole for Air Bubbles
Lab Set Up with Water Displacement –
measure the difference in mL
DATA TABLE
Does the type of organism affect the enzymatic rate of reaction (mL/sec)?
Amount of O2 Produced (mL/sec)
Trial
1
2
Your Average:
Class Average:
Potato
Yeast
Liver
Spinach
INVESTIGATION
• Students should be in groups of four and collect two
trials for each sample.
• Data will be shared with the class by placing it in an
Excel spreadsheet provided by the teacher.
• Create a bar graph in your research journal which
includes a title, labeled x axis and y axis, and a key that
represents the class and your calculated averages for
each pair of tissues sampled.