Question

What is the optimal temperature for lactase activity? Explain why enzymes are sensitive to temperature change

Answer 1

The optimal temperature for lactase activity is 37 oC. Enzymes say for example lactase hydrolyse or break down to becomes active. At an optimal temperature enough of lactase or enzyme breakdown or hydrolysis in some cases occur which enables them to have specific activity in the needed place. Enzymes below this optimal temperature would thus remain inactive. Above the optimal temperature or high temperatures the enzyme would completely breakdown and would thus be denatured or loose its enzymatic activity. Thus enzymes are sensitive to temperature change. In simple chemical reactions, increasing or decreasing the temperature increases or decreases the number of collisions per second between the substrate and the enzyme in a reaction. As the number of collisions go up, more substrates would be bound to enzyme and would undergo a chemical reaction with lower activation energy. At saturation temperature all the active sites of enzymes are completely filled and no more binding of substrate may occur. This is the limit of enzyme activity.