Enzymatic activity has an optimum temperature because
A) the component amino acids have varying melting points
B) the rate of reactions is thermodynamically controlled
C) the side chains of essential residues are chemically degraded at higher temperatures
D) raising the temperature speeds up the reaction until protein denaturation sets in
E) the organism dies beyond a certain temperature

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Enzymatic activity has an optimum temperature because initially, as the temperature increases, the rate of the enzymatic reaction increases due to the increased kinetic energy of the molecules involved. However, beyond a certain temperature, the enzyme's structure begins to denature, meaning it loses its specific shape necessary for its activity, leading to a decrease in or cessation of its catalytic function. This is why there is an optimum temperature for enzyme activity.

Enzymatic Activity Has an Optimum Temperature Because