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Rate: Temperature (CIE AS Biology)

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Cara Head

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Cara Head

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Rate: Temperature

  • Enzymes have a specific optimum temperature – the temperature at which they catalyse a reaction at the maximum rate
  • Lower temperatures either prevent reactions from proceeding or slow them down this is because:
    • Molecules move relatively slowly at lower temperatures
    • Therefore there is a lower frequency of successful collisions that occur between substrate molecules and the active site of the enzyme
    • So there are less frequent enzyme-substrate complexes formed
    • Substrates and enzymes collide with less energy, making it less likely for bonds to be formed or broken (stopping the reaction from occurring)
  • Higher temperatures speed up reactions this is because:
    • Molecules move more quickly at higher temperatures
    • Which results in higher frequency of successful collisions between substrate molecules and the active sites of enzymes
    • So there are more frequent enzyme-substrate complexes formed
    • Substrates and enzymes collide with more energy, making it more likely for bonds to be formed or broken (allowing the reaction to occur)
  • However, as temperatures continue to increase, the rate at which an enzyme catalyses a reaction drops sharply, as the enzyme begins to denature:
    • Bonds (e.g. hydrogen bonds) holding the enzyme molecule in its precise shape start to break
    • This causes the tertiary structure of the protein (i.e. the enzyme) to change
    • This permanently damages the active site, preventing the substrate from binding
    • Denaturation has occurred if the substrate can no longer bind
    • Very few human enzymes can function at temperatures above 50°C
      • This is because humans maintain a body temperature of about 37°C, therefore even temperatures exceeding 40°C will cause the denaturation of enzymes

Denaturation of Enzymes Diagram

The effect of temperature on an enzyme-catalysed reaction, downloadable AS & A Level Biology revision notes

The effect of temperature on the rate of an enzyme-catalysed reaction. Enzyme activity will have an optimum temperature specific for each enzyme. 

Examiner Tip

When answering questions about reaction rates for enzyme-catalysed reactions, make sure to explain how the temperature affects the speed at which the molecules (enzymes and substrates) are moving and how this, in turn, affects the number of successful collisions.

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Cara Head

Author: Cara Head

Expertise: Biology

Cara graduated from the University of Exeter in 2005 with a degree in Biological Sciences. She has fifteen years of experience teaching the Sciences at KS3 to KS5, and Psychology at A-Level. Cara has taught in a range of secondary schools across the South West of England before joining the team at SME. Cara is passionate about Biology and creating resources that bring the subject alive and deepen students' understanding