ENZYME CATALASE
Introduction:
Enzymes are proteins one of the four macromolecules: carbohydrates, proteins, lipids,
and nucleic acids. They are produced by cells to act as a catalyst in chemical reactions.
Enzymes are made by the ribosomes within a cell. The enzymes that need to stay within the
cell are made by the free ribosomes in the cytoplasm. The enzymes that are made to be
exported to other cells are created by the ribosomes on the Rough E.R. The purpose of
enzymes is to lower the activation energy (the energy that is put in at the beginning of the
reaction) of a reaction; therefore speeding the reaction rate up.
Catalase is one of the enzymes found in the cells of the human body. It is made up of
five hundred amino acids in four polypeptide chains. It is found in the perioxisome microbody
in the cells of eukaryotic organisms. The perioxisomes make hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). It is
a byproduct of cellular respiration. This is very toxic to cells. That is why catalase is there.
Catalase breaks down the hydrogen peroxide before it damages the cell. The formula for the
reaction of decomposition of hydrogen peroxide by catalase is:
H2O2 H2O2
H 2O + O 2 H 2O + O 2
Substrates are the substances that attach to the enzyme. They attach at the
enzyme’s active site with induced fit. The combining of and enzyme and substrate requires
ATP. The reaction when an enzyme and a substrate join is reversible. The reaction can
make more products or it can make more substrate.
Enzymes are affected by many things; such as salt concentration, pH, temperature,
substrate concentration, product concentration, activators, and inhibitors. These things can
cause the enzyme to denature (change shape). If the enzyme denatures, then the substrate
isn’t able to attach to the active site of the enzyme.
The typical salt concentration for an enzyme is intermediate. This allows the
substrate to attach to the enzyme correctly. If the concentration is lowered the R groups
of the enzyme attract to each other and pull the enzyme into a different shape (changing
the active site). If the concentration of salt is raised, then the active site of the enzyme is
blocked. Therefore the substrate can’t attach to the enzyme.
Enzymes function best in an environment with a pH of seven. When the pH of the
enzyme’s environment become more acidic (H+ ions increase) the enzyme denatures. This
causes the active site to change its shape and the substrate can’t attach. The same thing
happens when the enzyme’s environment gains H+ ions (becomes more basic).
When heat is added to anything the molecules increase is movement. With an enzyme,
when ten degrees Celsius is added the reaction rate is doubled. This will continue until
optimum temperature is reached. Then the enzyme is destroyed. Enzymes denature at
approximately forty-fifty degrees Celsius.
Enzymes follow the Law of Mass Action. This determines the rate and direction of an
enzyme and substrate reaction. If there is a high amount of substrate and a low amount of
products the reaction will continue to make more products. If there is a low amount of
substrate and a high amount of products, then the reaction will stop to get more substrate
to continue the reaction. This is true except when products are immediately metabolized or
exported from the cell.
Activators enable the substrate to fit the active site better. They increase the
reaction. Inhibitors block the active site or cause the enzyme to denature. They slow down
the reaction.
In this lab assaying is performed. An assay measures the amount of a substance that
is left after a reaction. In this case, hydrogen peroxide.
Hypothesis:
The enzyme catalase will decompose H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) best when its
environment is ideal.
Materials:
The materials used in the first part of exercise 2A are 10mL of 1.5% H2O2, one 50mL
beaker, and 1mL of fresh catalase. The materials used in the second part of exercise 2A are
one test tube, 5mL of fresh catalase, a hot plate, 10mL of 1.5% H2O2, and one 50mL beaker.
The materials used in the third part of exercise 2A are a potato, a knife, a ruler, one 50mL
beaker, and 10mL of 1.5% H2O2. The materials used in exercise 2B are 10mL of 1.5% H2O2,
1mL of water, 10mL of H2SO4 (1.0 M), a stirring rod, two 50mL beakers, 5mL syringe, and
5mL of 2% KMnO4. The materials used in exercise 2C are a 50mL beaker, 10-15mL of 1.5%
H2O2, 10mL syringe, and 5-10mL of 2% KMnO4. The materials used in exercise 2D are 60mL
of 1.5% H2O2, 60mL of H2SO4 (1.0M), 6mL of fresh catalase, six 50mL beakers, three 10mL
syringes, six 10mL beakers, and 30mL of 2% KMnO4.
Methods:
Exercise 2A: To observe the reaction of catalase and hydrogen peroxide, transfer
10mL of 1.5% H2O2 into a 50mL beaker and add 1mL of fresh catalase. Observe the reaction
and record results on Table 1. Next, the effect of boiling catalase needs to be
demonstrated. Place 5mL of fresh catalase into a test tube and boil it over a hot plate for 5
minutes. Allow the boiled catalase to cool very well. Then place 10mL of 1.5% H2O2 into a
50mL beaker and add 1mL of the cooled, boiled catalase. Observe the reaction and record
results on Table 1. Finally, to see the presence of catalase in living tissue, cut 1 cm3 of
potato and macerate it. Then, place it in a 50mL beaker with 10mL of 1.5% H2O2. Observe
the reaction and record results on Table 1.
Exercise 2B: This is the procedure for establishing a baseline. First, put 10mL of
1.5% H2O2 in a beaker. Add 1mL of water (instead of catalase). Add 10mL of H2SO4 (1.0M).
Mix the solution well. Remove a 5mL sample from the solution and place it into a 50mL
beaker. Using the 5mL syringe, add 2% KMnO4 one drop at a time (swirling after each drop)
to the sample until a persistent pink or brown color is obtained. Record the results on Table
2.
Exercise 2C: This will determine how much H2O2 will decompose spontaneously in an
uncatalyzed reaction. Place 10-15mL of H2O2 in a 50mL beaker and store it uncovered for
approximately 24 hours Determine the amount of H2O2 remaining after 24 hours by running
a baseline test. Use a 10mL syringe to get 10mL of 2% KMnO4. Add the KMnO4 to the
solution one drop at a time (swirling after each drop) until a pink or brown color is
permanently obtained. Record the results in Table 3.
Exercise 2D: If a day or more has passed since exercise 2B has been performed,
reestablish the baseline by performing exercise 2B again. Record the results in Table 4.
This exercise will determine the amount of H2O2 is disappearing over 10, 30, 60, 120, 180,
and 360 seconds. First, place 10mL of 1.5% H2O2 in six 50mL beakers. Label the beakers 10,
30, 60, 120, 180, and 360 seconds. Obtain 6mL of fresh catalase and 60mL of H2SO4 (1.0M).
Add 1mL of catalase to the 10 second beaker with one syringe. At 10 seconds, add 10mL of
H2SO4 (1.0M) with another syringe. For each of the times, repeat the adding of the catalase
and H2SO4. Allow the reactions to proceed for 30, 60, 120, 180, and 360 seconds
respectively. After the times have passed remove a 5mL sample from each of the six
beakers and place each of the samples into a separate 10mL beaker. Use 5ml of 2% KMnO4
for each of the six beakers to determine the amount of H2O2 that is left after the reaction.
Add KMnO4 to the samples one drop at a time (swirling after each drop) until a pink or brown
color is permanently obtained. Record results in Table 5. Graph the results.
Results:
Table 1
Enzyme Activity
Activity
Enzyme Activity
Observations
Bubbles
Effect of Extreme Temperature
Nothing
Presence of Catalase
Bubbles
Table 2
Establishing a Baseline
Volume
5mL
Initial Reading
Final Reading
1.6mL
Baseline (final volume – initial volume)
3.4mL
Table 3
Rate of Hydrogen Peroxide Spontaneous Decomposition
Initial KMnO4
Final KMnO4
Volume
6mL
1mL
Amount of KMnO4 used after 24 hours
5mL
Amount of H2O2 spontaneously decomposed
1.6mL
(ml baseline – ml after 24 hours)
Percent of H2O2 spontaneously decomposed
53%
(ml baseline – ml after 24 hours/ baseline)
Table 4
Establishing a Second Baseline
Volume
5mL
Initial Reading
Final Reading
1mL
Baseline (final volume – initial volume)
4mL
Table 5
Rate of Hydrogen Peroxide Decomposition by Catalase
Baseline KMnO4
Initial volume KMnO4
Final volume KMnO4
Amount KMnO4 used
(baseline – final)
Amount H2O2 used
(KMnO4 – initial)
10
4mL
5mL
2mL
3mL
30
4mL
5mL
3mL
2mL
1mL
2mL
Time ( Seconds)
60
120
4mL
4mL
5mL
5mL
4mL
4.2mL
1mL
.8mL
3mL
3.2mL
180
4mL
5mL
4mL
1mL
360
4mL
5mL
4.2mL
.8mL
3mL
3.2mL
1.
Determine the initial rate of the reaction and the rates between each of the
time points.
0-10 - .1
10-30 - .05
30-60 - .03
60-120 - .003
120-180 - .003
180-360 - .001
2. When is the rate the highest? Explain.
They are the highest at the beginning of the reaction because; less hydrogen
peroxide had been spontaneously decomposed. Therefore, there was more to be
broken down.
3.
When is the rate the lowest? For what reasons?
They are the lowest at the end of the reaction because more hydrogen peroxide
has been decomposed.
4.
Explain the inhibiting effect of sulfuric acid on the function of catalase.
Relate this to enzyme structure and chemistry.
The acid lowered the pH and the change made catalase gain H+ ions which
the active site to change shape.
5.
caused
Predict the effect lowering the temperature would have on the rate of enzyme
activity. Explain.
It would decrease the reaction because changing the temperature causes the
enzyme to denature. This causes the active site to change place, which slows
down the reaction.
6.
Design a control experiment to test the effect of varying pH, temperature, or
enzyme concentration.
Label 3 test tubes 0oC, rt, and 100oC. Place an equal amount of enzyme in each
tube. Put the 0oC on ice, leave the rt out and boil the 100oC tube. Observe the
changes in all 3 tubes.
Error Analysis:
Some possible errors that could have occurred in this lab include taking inaccurate
measurements of the substances used, making wrong calculations, and the times of testing
the experiments could have been delayed (ex: instead of 60 seconds it took place at 65
seconds).
Conclusion:
The enzyme catalase is created to break down H2O2. If the environment of catalase
is changed in any way; such as pH and temperature; then it can not do its job of breaking
down H2O2. This is proven when catalase broke down H2O2 in 2A and produced water and
oxygen when it wasn’t boiled. When the catalase was boiled, it had been denatured;
therefore it wouldn’t break the H2O2 down. In 2D the sulfuric acid kept catalase from
breaking down H2O2 also. It lowered the pH of the solution so the catalase denatured. You
can tell by looking at Table 5. The lower times have less H2O2 used than the higher times.
The higher times had more time with out the H2SO4, so the catalase was able to break down
more H2O2.
The rates of the reaction in this lab were very high at the beginning. Then, they
started to slow down. This is because at the beginning of the reaction there is more H2O2 to
decompose. Towards the end of the reaction there is less to decompose, so the rate slows
down quite suddenly.