Explain why biological enzymes would stop working at temperatures higher than 45 degrees Celcius.

1. Biological enzymes are proteins, meaning they have specific shapes depending on bond interactions.

2. The active site of the protein is specific to a certain substrate (the thing being broken down).

3. At temperatures higher than body temperature, the proteins start to lose their structure, as the molecules get too excited.

4. This changes the shape of the active site.

5. The substrate can no longer fit into the active site and therefore the enzyme does not work.

MH

Related Biology A Level answers

All answers ▸

What is the difference between mRNA and tRNA?


A patient is infected by a pathogen. Explain the process of the imitation of the immune response (5 marks) The paitent was prescribed antibiotics yet their symptoms did not improve. What can you infer from this? (1 mark)?


How does filtration through the kidney work?


Describe how a non-competitive inhibitor works to inhibit the activity of an enzyme.