Slide 1: Title Slide
Title: Factors Affecting Enzyme Activity
Subtitle: An Introduction to Enzyme Function and Its Regulation
Presented by: Aina Yasmeen
Slide 2: Introduction to Enzymes
What are Enzymes?
o Biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions.
o Made up of proteins (or RNA in some cases).
o Lower the activation energy required for reactions.
Why are Enzymes Important?
o Essential for life processes such as digestion, metabolism, and cellular
functions.
Slide 3: Factors Affecting Enzyme Activity
There are several factors that influence the rate of enzyme-catalyzed reactions:
1. Temperature
2. pH
3. Substrate Concentration
4. Enzyme Concentration
5. Inhibitors (Competitive and Non-Competitive)
6. Cofactors and Coenzymes
Slide 4: Temperature
Effect of Temperature on Enzyme Activity
o Enzyme activity generally increases with temperature until an optimal
temperature is reached.
o Above this temperature, the enzyme's structure may denature, leading
to a loss of activity.
Graph: Show a graph of enzyme activity vs. temperature (with an optimal
temperature).
Slide 5: pH
Effect of pH on Enzyme Activity
o Each enzyme has an optimal pH range where its activity is maximal.
o Outside this range, enzyme activity decreases as the enzyme structure
may change.
Example: Pepsin (found in the stomach) has an optimal pH of 2, while
amylase (found in the mouth) works best at a pH of 7.
Graph: Enzyme activity vs. pH.
Slide 6: Substrate Concentration
How Substrate Concentration Affects Enzyme Activity
o As substrate concentration increases, enzyme activity increases, up to
a certain point (saturation point).
o Beyond the saturation point, adding more substrate will not increase
the reaction rate.
Graph: Show Michaelis-Menten curve of enzyme activity vs. substrate
concentration.
Slide 7: Enzyme Concentration
Effect of Enzyme Concentration on Reaction Rate
o The reaction rate increases with enzyme concentration if there is
enough substrate available.
o Once all substrate molecules are bound to enzymes, increasing
enzyme concentration further has no effect.
Slide 8: Inhibitors
Competitive Inhibition
o Inhibitors resemble the substrate and compete for the enzyme's active
site.
o Can be overcome by increasing substrate concentration.
Non-Competitive Inhibition
o Inhibitors bind to a different site (not the active site) on the enzyme,
causing a change in enzyme shape and reducing its activity.
Slide 9: Cofactors and Coenzymes
Cofactors:
o Inorganic ions (e.g., Fe²⁺, Mg²⁺) required for enzyme activity.
Coenzymes:
o Organic molecules (e.g., vitamins, NAD⁺) that assist enzymes during
catalysis.
Example: The coenzyme NAD⁺ is essential for the enzyme alcohol
dehydrogenase to catalyze alcohol metabolism.
Slide 10: Conclusion
Enzyme activity is influenced by multiple factors, including temperature, pH,
substrate and enzyme concentration, inhibitors, and the presence of
cofactors.
Understanding these factors is crucial for applications in biotechnology,
medicine, and various biological processes.
Slide 11: Q&A
Open the floor for questions and discussion.
