Enzyme Puzzle Activity

Enzyme Puzzle Activity

Purpose: In this activity, you will make up your own enzyme-substrate complex. Substrates and enzymes work together like puzzles. Only one active site of an enzyme will fit in like a puzzle piece with a specific substrate. Thus, they are very specific. Every enzyme has its optimum pH (= pH where it works best). Most enzymes work in almost neutral media. When the temperature increases, molecules tend to move faster, collide harder and more often, so it would be logical to say that the rate of reaction should also increase. HOWEVER, proteins become denatured when temp. increases: their 3- dimensional structure is being destroyed. So the enzymes can no longer function.

Key Concepts:

Enzyme: A protein that speeds up reaction rates by lowering the activation energy of the reaction (less energy needed to make the reaction go!) They are not used up in the reaction. Enzymes are made up of a chain of amino acids.

Substrate: The molecule that the enzyme latches onto. AKA Reactants

Competitive Inhibitor: Some molecules that can fit into the active site and may compete for admission into the active site.

Materials:

-Different colors of construction paper

-scissors

-markers

Procedure:

1) Using the paper provided, you will make an enzyme puzzle. You need to create a substrate, an enzyme with a matching active site, and reactants that are formed after the enzyme speeds up the reaction. If you have problems, refer to page 76 in your biology book.

2) You will have to name your enzyme. Usually, enzymes end in ‘ase.” For example, catalase is an enzyme used frequently in the lab. Write the enzymes name on the paper.

3) Then, make sure to label each piece of your puzzle. If for example you have the substrate piece, label it SUBSTRATE. All pieces need to be labeled in order to get full credit.

4) Lastly, create a competitive inhibitor that may fit in the active site of the complex, but will not allow the reaction to start.