LHS Academic Biology
Mr. Zahm
LAB: PINEAPPLE ENZYMES & JELL-O
Name __________________________________ Block _________ Date: _______________
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Adapted by G. Zahm from http://www.explorebiology.com/documents/Lab08PineappleEnzymes2005.pdf Nov 2014. Thanks to A. Peters for providing the source of this
website in her own adapted version of the lab.
LAB: PINEAPPLE ENZYMES & JELLO
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this lab is to reinforce the ideas we’ve learned about Enzymes. Specifically,
1. What are Enzymes?
(Proteins that catalyze (speed up) chemical reactions.)
2. How do enzymes catalyze a reaction?
(Because of their unique shapes, enzymes are able to bring together – or break apart (as in this case) a specific
substrate/ reactant to form one or more new products.)
3. What affects the functioning of Enzymes?
(Enzymes depend on their shape. What can cause them cease functioning?)
GOAL
Today, you will test the effect of the enzyme bromelain (from pineapple) on the protein
collagen, in gelatin.
You will test both fresh pineapple and canned pineapple that has been pasteurized - heated - to destroy bacteria
and its toxins. (This is done so that the can may sit on a shelf for an extended period of time.)
BACKGROUND
If you have ever made Jell-O by cooking the powder that comes in a box, you may have noticed the warning on
the instructions that tell you not to add fresh (or frozen) pineapple to the gelatin. Have you ever wondered why?
Do you know that Jell-O is really made out of hides, bones, and inedible connecting tissue from animals
butchered for meat. Yup!
All gelatin – all these tough parts – are made mostly of proteins. In fact, the extracted gelatin is made from …a
structural protein called Collagen.
Collagen gives skin and connective tissues their elastic characteristic. (Collagen is why your skin looks
smooth.) So, gelatin is made of the protein Collagen and can be extracted (taken) from any kind of mammal, but
cows and pigs are most common.
As with some other tropical fruits, the pineapple fruit contains an enzyme that breaks down, or digests, protein.
This protease (protein-digesting) enzyme in pineapple is called Bromelain, which is extracted and sold in such
products as Schilling's Meat Tenderizer. (Papaya, another tropical fruit, also contains an enzyme, called papain,
that digest protein. It can be found in Accent Meat Tenderizer)
…
LHS Academic Biology
Mr. Zahm
LAB: PINEAPPLE ENZYMES & JELL-O
PROCEDURE:
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In this lab, you will be given an array of materials and you will be asked to design your own experiment to test
the effect of pineapple on gelatin.
__ 0. MATERIALS: You will collect the following materials in your lab bin.
• Fresh pineapple
• Canned pineapple
• Gelatin (Jell-O)
• Beakers or Petri dishes
• Spoon/fork for mashing pineapple
__1. PROBLEM: Will both types of pineapple be able to digest the collagen protein in the Jell-O, causing it to
lose its solid shape, and become liquid?
__2. HYPOTHESIS: Write a hypothesis to test that proposes a solution to your problem.
(Use the form, “If ______, then __________ will happen to the gelatin.”)
__3. EXPERIMENT: Explain in complete sentences (with drawings, if that helps you) how you can test the
effect of Bromelain (in Pineapple) on the Collagen in gelatin.
Be sure to discuss
- the types of pineapple you will test
- that you will test it on gelatin,
- the equipment you will use
- and HOW you will actually perform – “do” – your experiment.
__4. DATA COLLECTION & RECORDING: Use the data table provided – or create your own – to record the
results of your tests.
__5. GET TEACHER’S APPROVAL.
__6. Once you have done 1-5, above, you may run your tests.
__7. Be sure to observe and record your results in a data table.
LHS Academic Biology
Mr. Zahm
LAB: PINEAPPLE ENZYMES & JELL-O
Name __________________________________ Block _________
3 of 5
Adapted by G. Zahm from http://www.explorebiology.com/documents/Lab08PineappleEnzymes2005.pdf Nov 2014. Thanks to A. Peters for providing the source of this
website in her own adapted version of the lab.
EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
Teacher Approval_________
- Explain each of the following.
LAB TITLE _______________________________________________________________________________
PROBLEM (Will both …?) ___________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
HYPOTHESIS (If…,then…)__________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
INDEPENDENT VARIABLE ________________________________________________________________
NUMBER OF TRIALS _____________________________________________________________________
DEPENDENT VARIABLE __________________________________________________________________
MEASUREMENT OF DEPENDENT VARIABLE ________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
CONTROL _______________________________________________________________________________
OTHER CONTROLLED FACTORS (AT LEAST 5) ______________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
CONCLUSION (I was correct/incorrect, ….) ________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
LHS Academic Biology
Mr. Zahm
LAB: PINEAPPLE ENZYMES & JELL-O
DATA COLLECTION:
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Table: Observations of Jell-O and the effects of Fresh Pineapple and Canned Pineapple
Sample Type
Jell-0 and Canned
Pineapple
Jell-O and Fresh
Pineapple
Observation of Jell-O (no pineapple)
Observations of Jell-O (10 mins after
pineapple added)
LHS Academic Biology
Mr. Zahm
LAB: PINEAPPLE ENZYMES & JELL-O
Name __________________________________ Block _________
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QUESTIONS
Answer in complete sentences.
1. Clearly describe the results of your experiment.
A. In which containers did the gelatin remain jelled? Which did not remain jelled?
B. WHY did some containers of gelatin remain jelled while others did not? Be specific!
2. What is the enzyme in your experiment?
3. What is the substrate in your experiment?
4. What is (are) the product(s) in your experiment?
5. What type of organic molecule is gelatin?
6. What type of organic molecule is bromelain?
Extra:
7. Write a “word equation” to describe the chemical reaction that occurs when pineapple is mixed with the
gelatin.
8. Why were the results of the canned (cooked) pineapple different than the results of the fresh pineapple?
Be specific!
9 . On another sheet of paper, design an experiment to test at what specific temperature the pineapple enzyme
denatures – loses its shape.