Question

Trypsin 11. Like all proteins enzymes are denatured by extremes of pH. Each enzyme has a preferred pH range for optimum activity. a. State the optimum pH for each enzyme. Pepsin Trypsin b. Pepsin breaks down proteins in the stomach and requires an acidic environment to work. How would pepsin activity be affected if it were put in a neutral solution?

Answer 1

a. The optimum pH for each enzyme is as follows:

- Pepsin: Pepsin, which breaks down proteins in the stomach, has an optimum pH range of around 1.5 to 2.0. It works best in a highly acidic environment.

- Trypsin: Trypsin is an enzyme that works in the small intestine and has an optimum pH range of around 7.5 to 8.5. It works best in a slightly alkaline or neutral environment.

b. If pepsin were put in a neutral solution, its activity would be significantly affected. Pepsin's optimum pH range is highly acidic (around 1.5 to 2.0). In a neutral solution with a pH of 7, pepsin would not function effectively because the pH is far from its optimal range. Enzymes are highly sensitive to changes in pH, and their activity decreases as you move away from their optimum pH. In a neutral solution, pepsin would be denatured, leading to a loss of its enzymatic activity in breaking down proteins.