Question

Explain the effect of pH on enzymes.

Answer 1

Every enzyme has an optimum pH when it is most effective. A rise or fall in pH reduces enzyme activity by changing the degree of ionisation of its side chains. A change on pH may also reverse reaction. Fumarase catalyses fumarate $\to$ malate at 6.2 pH and reverse at 7.5 pH. Most of the intracellular enzymes function near neutral pH. With the exception of several digestive enzymes which work either in acidic range of pH or alkaline e.g., 2.0 pH for pepsin, 8.5 for trypsin.