PH is an indication of the amount of hydrogen ions in a solution. PH can directly alter enzyme activity because it may change the shape of the enzyme. This is because there is a change in the chemical make up of the enzyme as bonds are made or broken.
When the shape of the enzyme changes, it is no longer specific for the kind of substrate it works on. The substrate molecule would not be able to identify it and thus would not attach to it. Therefore, there would be no reaction. Sometimes the pH may also change the structure of the substrate so that the enzyme does not recognize it (no binding and thus, no reaction).
Every enzyme operates best at different pH. Protease pepsin works best in an acidic pH whereas trypsin works in slightly alkaline conditions. A deviation from these conditions would lead to inefficient enzyme function because of the change of shape as I have discussed above.
The range of pH at which an enzyme works effectively is very narrow and different for most enzymes. The pH at which an enzyme has the highest rate of reaction is known as its Optimum pH.
Cheers.
When the shape of the enzyme changes, it is no longer specific for the kind of substrate it works on. The substrate molecule would not be able to identify it and thus would not attach to it. Therefore, there would be no reaction. Sometimes the pH may also change the structure of the substrate so that the enzyme does not recognize it (no binding and thus, no reaction).
Every enzyme operates best at different pH. Protease pepsin works best in an acidic pH whereas trypsin works in slightly alkaline conditions. A deviation from these conditions would lead to inefficient enzyme function because of the change of shape as I have discussed above.
The range of pH at which an enzyme works effectively is very narrow and different for most enzymes. The pH at which an enzyme has the highest rate of reaction is known as its Optimum pH.
Cheers.
