4 Enzymes and metabolism

Note:
1 Answer ALL questions. Time and marks
2 Write your answers to Section A in the boxes next to Sections A & B: 35 mins / 30 marks
the questions, and your answers to Sections B and C in Sections A to C: 40 mins / 35 marks
the spaces provided below the questions.

A Multiple-choice questions
(10 marks, 1 mark each)

Directions: Questions 1 and 2 refer to diagram below, which shows an enzymatic reaction
occurring in the human body.

X
Y

enzyme

Stage: I II III IV

1 Which of the following statements about the reaction is correct?

A The energy level of X is lower than that of Y.
B The enzyme will be changed after the reaction.
C The enzyme will not reach stage II at very high temperatures.
D An enzyme-substrate complex is formed at stage III.

2 Which of the following properties of enzymes are illustrated in the diagram?
(1) Enzymes are specific in action.
(2) Enzymes are reusable.
(3) Enzymes are proteins.
A (1) and (2) only B (1) and (3) only
C (2) and (3) only D (1), (2) and (3)


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3 Catalase is present in liver tissues. Three cubes of pig liver with sides of 0.5 cm were put
into three test tubes with 5 cm3 hydrogen peroxide solution of different concentrations
(3% and 5%) under different temperatures (20 °C and 35 °C). The graph below shows the
change in the volume of oxygen produced in each tube.

(1)

(2)
volume of
oxygen
produced (3)

time
Which of the following combinations correctly identifies the content in each tube?
(1) (2) (3)
A 3% hydrogen peroxide 5% hydrogen peroxide 3% hydrogen peroxide
solution at 20 °C solution at 35 °C solution at 35 °C
B 5% hydrogen peroxide 3% hydrogen peroxide 3% hydrogen peroxide
solution at 35 °C solution at 20 °C solution at 35 °C
C 5% hydrogen peroxide 3% hydrogen peroxide 3% hydrogen peroxide
solution at 35 °C solution at 35 °C solution at 20 °C
D 3% hydrogen peroxide 5% hydrogen peroxide 3% hydrogen peroxide
solution at 35 °C solution at 35 °C solution at 20 °C

4 An experiment was carried out to study the change in the concentration of maltose in a
reaction mixture with starch and an amylase. The experiment was performed under
optimum conditions for the amylase and repeated with certain treatment performed to the
reaction mixture. The graph below shows the results.

optimum conditions
concentration of
maltose

treatment
time
Which of the following is not a possible treatment?
A cooling the reaction mixture to 0 °C
B adding a strong alkali to the reaction mixture
C adding an inhibitor of amylase to the reaction mixture
D diluting the reaction mixture by two folds using distilled water
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5 Which of the following statements about the factors affecting enzyme activity are incorrect?
(1) Low temperatures decrease enzyme activity because enzymes are denatured.
(2) High temperatures decrease enzyme activity because the enzyme and substrate
molecules cannot collide with one another.
(3) Unsuitable pH decreases enzyme activity because the activation energy of the reaction
becomes greater.
A (1) and (2) only
B (1) and (3) only
C (2) and (3) only
D (1), (2) and (3)

6 Pepsin solutions at different pH were added into 5 test tubes. An egg white cube of the same
size was put into each tube. The test tubes were then put in a water bath at 37 °C for one
hour. Which of the following graphs best represents the volume of the egg white cubes
under different pH after one hour?
A B
volume
volume

2 4 6 8 10 2 4 6 8 10
pH pH

C D
volume
volume

2 4 6 8 10 2 4 6 8 10
pH pH

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Directions: Questions 7 and 8 refer to diagram below, which shows two tubes used to study
the effect of starch phosphorylase on glucose-1-phosphate. Starch phosphorylase
catalyses the synthesis of starch from glucose-1-phosphate. Some plant tissues
like potato contain this enzyme.
Both tubes in the diagram were incubated at 35 °C for 30 minutes. One drop of
the solution from each test tube was transferred to one well on a spot plate as
shown.

glucose-1-phosphate
solution
fresh potato tissue boiled potato tissue

two wells on a spot plate

7 Which of the following diagrams shows the most likely result if a drop of iodine solution is
added to each well?

Key: brown blue-black

A B

C D


8 Which of the following is/are possible conclusion(s) that can be drawn from this
experiment?
(1) Starch phosphorylase loses its activity after boiling.
(2) The active site of starch phosphorylase is changed after boiling.
(3) The optimum temperature of starch phosphorylase is 35 °C.
A (1) only B (2) only
C (3) only D (1) and (3) only


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9 To investigate the effect of temperature on biological and traditional washing powders,
fabrics with identical oil stains were put into solutions of the washing powders at different
temperatures for 10 minutes. The table below shows the results.
40 °C 90 °C
Biological washing powder stain removed stain remained
Traditional washing powder stain remained stain remained
Which of the following statements are correct explanations of the results?
(1) The active ingredient in the biological washing powder loses its function at 90 °C.
(2) The time of soaking is not long enough for the washing powders to work.
(3) The biological washing powder contains enzymes but the traditional one does not.
A (1) and (2) only B (1) and (3) only
C (2) and (3) only D (1), (2) and (3)

10 Patients with sore throat are often prescribed with lysozyme tablets because lysozyme can
A disrupt the membrane structure of bacteria.
B disintegrate the cell wall of bacteria.
C destroy the toxins produced by bacteria.
D degrade the DNA of bacteria.


B Conventional questions
(20 marks)

1 Enzymes can be both useful and undesirable during food preparation.

a Pineapple juice is often used to soften beef before stir-frying. Should the juice from
fresh pineapple or canned pineapple be used? Explain briefly. (2 marks)

b Browning of cut vegetables and fruits is unpleasant. The reactions are catalysed by an
enzyme called polyphenol oxidase found in the cells of vegetables and fruits. Adding
lemon juice to the vegetables and fruits right after cutting can prevent browning.
Explain the biological principle behind. (2 marks)

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Chapter Test 4 Enzymes and metabolism

2 The graph below shows the effectiveness of a biological washing powder at different pH.

Effectiveness of
the washing
powder
(arbitrary unit)

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

pH

a Explain why two peaks are observed in the curve. Suggest the meaning of the peaks.
(2 marks)

b Explain the shape of the curve between pH 8 and 11. (3 marks)

c Which pH value would be the most effective to remove multiple kinds of stains on
clothes? Explain briefly. (2 marks)

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3 Casein is an insoluble protein present in milk. It gives the milky appearance of milk.
Enzyme X catalyses the hydrolysis of casein into a colourless, soluble protein.

enzyme X
Casein colourless soluble protein

A student set up three tubes (A to C) to study the hydrolysis of casein by enzyme X. The
table below shows the volume of the substances he added to each test tube.

Volume added (cm3)

Tube A Tube B Tube C

Skimmed milk 6 6 6

Enzyme X solution 2 2 0

Dilute hydrochloric acid 2 0 2

Distilled water 0 2 2

The tubes were allowed to stand for 30 minutes. The cloudiness of the mixture in each tube
was measured at regular intervals and the results were shown in the graph below.

tubes B and C

cloudiness
(arbitrary unit)

tube A

time (min)
0 15 30

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a Why is distilled water added to tubes B and C? (1 mark)

b Why should skimmed milk be used instead of full-fat milk? (1 mark)

c i Based on the results in tubes A and C, what conclusion can be drawn? (1 mark)

ii Further to your answer in i, what conclusion can be drawn if the result in tube B
is also considered? (1 mark)

d Describe how you would show that the hydrolysis of casein is due to the action of
enzyme X. (3 marks)

e If a student adds more milk to tube A after 30 mins, what would happen to the
cloudiness of the reaction mixture in the tube? Which property of enzymes does this
demonstrate? (2 marks)

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 C Higher order thinking question
(5 marks)

4 In humans, cholesterol is metabolized to form testosterone and progesterone, which are the
sex hormones. Progesterone can be converted into cortisol by enzyme Q. Cortisol is a
hormone which plays important roles in responding to stress and regulating the metabolism
of glucose. The diagram below shows part of the metabolic pathway of cholesterol in
humans.

cholesterol

testosterone progesterone

enzyme Q

cortisol

further metabolized by other enzymes

a Deficiency of enzyme Q has life-threatening consequences. Describe the blood levels

of the following substances in a patient suffering from enzyme Q deficiency:
i progesterone (1 mark)

ii cortisol (1 mark)

b To diagnose the problem of enzyme Q deficiency, serum level of cortisol is measured.

Blood samples taken from patients are usually stored under 4 °C before performing
blood tests for cortisol. With reference to enzyme activity, explain the significance of
storing blood samples under 4 °C to giving an accurate measurement of cortisol.
(3 marks)

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Chapter test Answers

Answers

A Multiple-choice questions
1 C 2 A 3 C 4 D 5 D
6 C 7 B 8 A 9 B 10 B

B Conventional questions
1 a The juice from fresh pineapple should be used. 1
Canned pineapple has been boiled and the proteases in it are denatured. 1
b Adding lemon juice lowers the pH 1
and denatures the polyphenol oxidase in the vegetables and fruits. 1
2 a Two peaks are observed because two different enzymes are present. 1
Each of the peaks corresponds to the optimum pH of each enzyme. 1
b pH 9 is the optimum pH for the enzyme. 1
At unsuitable pH, the activity of the enzyme decreases 1
because the enzyme is denatured. 1
c pH 8 1
because both enzymes have considerable activity at this pH. 1
3 a To give the same total volume of solution in each tubes. This ensures the
concentrations of skimmed milk in the three tubes / enzyme X in tubes A and B are the
same. 1
b Without fat, the milk will look less cloudy and hence the change in cloudiness can be
measured more accurately. 1
c i The hydrolysis of casein is due to the presence of enzyme X. 1
ii Both dilute hydrochloric acid and enzyme X are needed for the hydrolysis of
casein. 1
d Set up a tube which contains the same content as tube A 1
but replacing enzyme X solution with boiled enzyme X solution. 1
If the reaction mixture remains cloudy / does not become clearer, the hydrolysis of
casein is due to the action of enzyme X. 1
e The cloudiness will first increase and then gradually decrease. 1
This demonstrates that enzymes can be reused. 1

C Higher order thinking question

4 a i The level of progesterone will be higher than that of a normal person. 1
ii The level of cortisol will be lower than that of a normal person. 1
b Storing blood samples at 4 °C can inactivate enzymes, 1
so that enzyme Q in the blood sample will not catalyse the production of more cortisol;
also, other enzymes in the blood sample will not catalyse the break down cortisol.
1
This maintains a constant level of cortisol in the blood sample. 1

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