Question

How does pH affect enzyme activity?

Answer 1

pH and enzyme activity:

1. pH is a major factor affecting the activity of enzymes.
2. The ionization of amino acid molecules and atoms occurs when the pH is altered, thereby affecting the structure and form of proteins and hence disrupting their activities.
3. The velocity of the enzyme is highest in the presence of its optimum pH, below and above which the velocity is much lower.
4. In case of the presence of extreme pH conditions, the enzyme is inactivated altogether.
5. The relationship between enzyme activity and pH is depicted by a bell-shaped curve.