Question

Many cells make and use an enzyme, called catalase, to facilitate the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The products of the decomposition are hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O2).
Which of these changes to the cell would cause the greatest reduction in the activity of catalase?

A. a decrease in the concentration of hydrogen and oxygen
B. an increase in the concentration of hydrogen peroxide
C. an increase or decrease in pH beyond normal range
D. a return of pH to the normal range

Answer 1

Catalase, like most enzymes, are proteins, which retain their structural and functional integrity within a rather narrow range of environmental conditions. One such condition is pH: If the catalase were exposed to an environment that had a pH that drastically differed from the pH where the enzyme usually works, the catalase’s structure would be disturbed and its catalytic activity reduced.