Chapter 8, Problem 17STP

Summary Introduction

To hypothesize:

How protein digestion would be different in a person who lacks the enzyme involved in protein digestion.

Introduction:

Enzymes are bio catalysts that speed up the rate of chemical reaction in biological processes. They are very important to life. Enzymes are also not used up in the reactions so they can be used again. Factors like pH, temperature, and other substances affect the activity of enzyme. They are highly specific in their action. Enzymes work by forming an enzyme- substrate complex which helps in breaking the chemical bonds in reactants and forming new bonds. The substrates react to form new products.

Answer to Problem 17STP

In the absence of protein digesting enzyme, proteins may accumulate in the body and cause many problems. The digestion of proteins will take much longer time.

Explanation of Solution

Enzymes are bio catalysts that work by lowering the activation energy needed to start a chemical reaction. Without enzymes reactions would occur at a very slow rate. When an enzyme acts as a biological catalyst, the reaction occurs at a rate that is useful to cells. Many biological processes like digestion, photosynthesis, respiration etc occur in the presence of enzymes. Protein digestion also requires an enzyme. If this enzyme is absent in a person, he or she may not be able to digest the proteins quickly. In the absence of enzymes, proteins will be digested very slowly as a result of which proteins may accumulate in the body. Thismay lead to further complications and may cause disorders.