What effect does temperature have on enzyme action?

Enzymes are biological catalysts and speed up reactions happening inside organisms.
An increase in temperature increases the rate of enzyme activity and therefore rate of reaction up to a certain point. In most organisms at around 40oC protein structure of the enzyme is affected. The long amino acid chains that make up the enzyme begin to unravel. This changes the shape of the active site of the enzyme so that it is no longer complementary to the substrate. This is known as denaturing and the enzyme can no longer act as a catalyst as the substrate does not fit so the rate of reaction rapidly decreases beyond the optimum temperature.
The optimum of most human enzymes is around 37oC so this is the temperature where they are most efficient. Other types of organisms such as extremophile bacteria live in hot springs so the optimum temperature for their enzymes is around 80oC or more.

AG
Answered by Alex G. Biology tutor

5381 Views

See similar Biology GCSE tutors

Related Biology GCSE answers

All answers ▸

Meiosis and mitosis are different types of division in human cells. Compare the two processes by referring to where each takes place and the kind of products that are made.


Name the 4 different stages of Mitosis?


What is eutrophication?


Name two types of effectors in the body, and the response that effector makes


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning