Photomicrograph by Dr. Conly L. Rieder, East Greenbush, New York
-In the graph, why does the curve sharply drop after approximately 45°C instead of mirroring the slope of the line going from 0 to 40°C?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The curve sharply drops after approximately 45°C because the enzyme begins to denature above a certain temperature, thus eliminating all catalytic activity of the protein. This is known as the enzyme's "optimal temperature range," and outside of this range, the enzyme structure begins to break down, leading to loss of function.