Enzymes & pH: Extended (CIE IGCSE Biology: Co-ordinated Sciences (Double Award))

Revision Note

Cara Head

Author

Cara Head

Last updated

Did this video help you?

Enzymes & pH: Extended

Extended Tier Only

  • The optimum pH for most enzymes is 7
  • Some are produced in acidic conditions, such as the stomach; these have a lower optimum pH (pH 2) 
  • Some are produced in alkaline conditions, such as the duodenum, and have a higher optimum pH (pH 8 or 9)
  • If the pH is too high or too low, the bonds that hold the amino acid chain together to make up the protein can be destroyed
  • This will change the shape of the active site, so the substrate can no longer fit into it, reducing the rate of activity
  • Moving too far away from the optimum pH will cause the enzyme to denature and activity will stop

Effect of pH on enzyme activity, IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

Effect of pH on enzyme activity

Graph showing effect of pH on rate of activity for an enzyme from duodenum, IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

Graph showing the effect of pH on rate of activity for an enzyme from the duodenum

You've read 0 of your 5 free revision notes this week

Sign up now. It’s free!

Join the 100,000+ Students that ❤️ Save My Exams

the (exam) results speak for themselves:

Did this page help you?

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