Explain why biological enzymes would stop working at temperatures higher than 45 degrees Celcius.

1. Biological enzymes are proteins, meaning they have specific shapes depending on bond interactions.

2. The active site of the protein is specific to a certain substrate (the thing being broken down).

3. At temperatures higher than body temperature, the proteins start to lose their structure, as the molecules get too excited.

4. This changes the shape of the active site.

5. The substrate can no longer fit into the active site and therefore the enzyme does not work.

MH

Related Biology A Level answers

All answers ▸

How does osmosis work?


Explain how an action potential is propagated across a synapse in a muscles (3 marks)


What are the possible effects of complete kidney failure on the blood?


What are the four chambers of the heart and what do they do?