Question

Enzymes are special proteins that speed up reactions. If the pH of the ocean water becomes more acidic, thus lowering the environmental pH. What may happen to enzymes in many ocean species? A. Enzymes completely disappear if pH is not nuetral B. The lower the pH, the faster the work, so they will work better C. If substrates are dissolved in acid first then enzymes will work better D. Enzymes can denature (lose their shape) and stop working if temperature or pH is out of their healthy range

Answer 1

Answer: D. Enzymes can denature (lose their shape) and stop working if temperature or pH is out of their healthy range.

Explanation:

Enzymes are highly specific and selective of their environment and substrate. There are temperatures and pH range in which they are highly effective and best operate in. Those temperatures and pH are called their optimal range. Should those environmental conditions change (pH of ocean water) they will easily lose shape, a process called denaturing.

When they denature, their substrate cannot recognize them and are left unable to bind to enzyme's active site, thus cannot form an enzyme-substrate complex to proceed with catalyzing the reaction.