What are the effects temperature and pH level have in the efficacy of digestive enzymes?

Answer 1

As you increase the temperature at first the activity of an enzymes will also increase, so the reaction will go faster. At a certain temperature, called the optimum temperature, the enzyme will work at its maximum rate. Above the optimum temperature the enzyme activity decreases. This is due to the loss of shape by the enzyme molecules, a process called denaturation.

In mammals, most enzyme shave an optimum temperature of about 37 oC.

Roughly speaking, the rate of an enzyme reaction doubles for each 10 oC rise in temperature, until the optimum temperature is reached.

pH affects enzymes in a similar way. At a low pH many enzymes have a low activity. As the pH increases the enzyme activity increases until the optimum pH at which the enzyme has maximum activity. Above this pH enzyme activity decreases. These effects are also dueto denaturation of the enzyme molecules at extreme pH values.

Many enzymes work best at around pH 7.0. An important exception is pepsin, a protein-digesting (protease) enzyme in the stomach. This works at low pH values such as those found in the stomach (around pH 2.0), due to the presence of hydrochloric acid.