Running Head: EFFECT OF PH ON AMYLASE ACTIVITY 1

Lab Report on the Effect of PH on Amylase Activity

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EFFECT OF PH ON AMYLASE ACTIVITY 2

Introduction

Chemically, enzymes are protein in nature and act as catalysts for the chemical reactions

that occur in living organisms (Adams, 2003). They attach themselves to slots on the substrates

called active sites to speed up a particular chemical reaction. There are different types of

enzymes each with a particular reaction in which it catalyses. Once the reaction is complete, the

enzyme de-touches from the substrate and attaches to another one for the same reaction. Adams

(2003) argues that the enzyme amylase found in saliva, helps to speed up or catalyzes starch

hydrolysis. Due to the fact enzymes are substances that are protein in nature; their structures

(Secondary and tertiary) are affected by pH, presence of heavy metals ions like zinc and

temperature. The activities of enzymes are linked with their structure. Therefore, any change in

the tertiary or secondary structure affects enzyme activity The Concentration of hydrogen ion

referred as pH in a solution affects the three dimensional structure of an enzyme just the same

way the temperature affect enzyme. This greatly affects the functions of an enzyme. A good

number of enzymes perform better near neutral pH ranges. Those found in the stomach of human

beings requires acidic pH to perform better while some others requires a basic PH ranges. This

experiment will examine the effect of pH on the activity of Amylase (Adams, 2003)

Materials and methodology

For this experiment, the following materials were used; 6 test tubes, 5.0ml distilled water,

4.0ml starch solution, 6ml pH buffers (3, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9), 10ml amylase solution and 5ml iodine

solution were used. The mixture of starch and the amylase solution was put in the test tube

containing distilled water and different pH buffers ranging from 5 to 9 in each tube. The time for

the reaction to take place and the color to change in each of the test tubes was recorded to

determine the rate of reaction.

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Results

Figure 1 Table showing the PH, time, starch concentration and reaction rate

Tube Labeled A B C D E F

PH 3 5 6 7 8 9

Exact time(min) 2 1 1.01 1 5 5

Starch Conc.(mg/ml) 0.038 0.012 0.016 0.031 0.033 0.052

Reaction rate(mg/ml per min) 0.0055 0.037 0.033 0.018 0.0032 -0.0006

In the table above, the rate of reaction increases from pH 3 up to the pH 5 and then decreases
steadily up to the pH of 9.0

Figure 2 Graph of the Effect of PH on reaction rate

0.045
Reaction Rate(mg/ml per minute)

0.04
0.035
0.03
0.025
0.02
0.015
0.01
0.005
0
-0.005 0 2 4 6 8 10
pH

Source: Adam, P., ed. (2003). ‘Molecules, Cells and Genes subject guide’, University of

NSW: Sydney.
EFFECT OF PH ON AMYLASE ACTIVITY 4

According to the graph above, there is a considerable sharp increase in reaction rate from

pH 3 up to a pH of 5.3 where there is peak of rate of reaction. It is then followed by a decline

from the pH of 5.3 up to a pH of 8.0 and there is a dramatic less decrease after the pH of 8.0.

Discussion

In figure 2 above, the optimum Amylase pH is 5.3 which is quite acidic. The alkalinity

and acidity of the activity of enzyme with respect to the environment depend on enzyme

characteristics. Every enzyme has its optimum pH where the activity of the enzyme peaks. In

acidic environment, the rate of reaction increases to a pH of 5.3 and decrease there after.

Conclusion

This experiment showed that enzymes are very important substances that catalyze

chemical reactions in living cells of living things in ensuring food is digested and assimilated

into the body system. The conditions of the cell should however be conducive for the proper

functioning of enzymes because extreme condition of pH affects the rate of chemical reactions.

The pH in a solution affects the three dimensional structure of an enzyme just the same way the

temperature affect enzyme. This greatly affects the functions of an enzyme. A good number of

enzymes perform better near neutral pH ranges. Those found in the stomach of human beings

requires acidic PH to perform better while some others requires a basic pH ranges. From the

experiment the optimum pH of amylase is 5.3. Since all the enzymes have the same

characteristic and function in the cell, it is expected that the findings of this experiment can be

applied to other enzymes which may be catalyzing different reactions in the cell.
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References

Adam, P., ed. (2003). ‘Molecules, Cells and Genes subject guide’, University of NSW:

Sydney.