Question

what are the factors which affect the enzyme activity?

Answer 1

Enzymes are biocatalysts that speed up the reaction without itself being changed in the overall process.
Factors affecting enzyme activity-
(1) Temperature-
Enzyme activity is highest at a particular temperature known as optimum temperature. Above this temperature enzyme is denatured whereas decrease in temperature inactivates the enzyme temporarily.
(2) pH-
Enzymes also show its highest activity at optimum pH. Change in pH alters active site of an enzyme thereby affecting substrate binding to it.
(3) Concentration of substrate-
Increase in substrate concentration increases enzyme activity. But when all active sites of an enzyme are occupied by substrate molecules enzyme activity decreases.
(4) Inhibitor-
The chemical that shuts off enzyme activity is known as inhibitor. When inhibitor closely resembles substrate molecules, it competes with the substrate for the substrate binding site of an enzyme. Hence it reduces enzyme activity.