Question

The figure below shows the relative acceleration factors for pepsin, an enzyme found in the stomach, and trypsin, an enzyme found in the small intestine. What conclusions can you make about the pH in the small intestine vs the stomach. Discuss and formulate conclusions as a group and enter them below.

Answer 1

Enzymes are biocatalysts which increase the rate of biochemical reactions without undergoing any change themselves. It binds to the substrate forming the enzyme substrate complex and forming the product. The acceleration factor of enzymes is the factor by which the enzyme increases the rate of the reaction.

Pepsin and trypsin are enzymes involved in the breakdown of proteins in the stomach and the small intestine respectively. Enzymes function best at a particular pH called the optimum pH. Pepsin is found in the stomach with an acidic environment and function best at a pH range of 2-3. Small intestine has a pH between 7-8 and Trypsin secreted by the pancreas into the small intestine functions best at a neutral or slightly alkaline pH of 7-8.  Thus, the catalytic activity of the enzymes is maximum at its optimum pH.