Do Different Temperatures Affect Enzyme Activity in a Parabolic Arrhenius Plot?

In summary, the conversation discusses the researcher's kinetic study on an enzyme catalysed reaction and plotting the Arrhenius graph. They noticed a parabola and are considering taking the derivative at each point to determine different activation energies depending on the temperature. They also mention the possibility of enzymes' dependency on heat and whether the data represents steady states or average processes. The researcher suggests measuring enzyme activity to further understand the processes, using the example of brewing science. They also mention the potential for enzyme degradation at higher temperatures.
  • #1
Tymothee Waldner
7
2
Hi, I am currently doing a kinetic study on an enzyme catalysed reaction and plotting the Arrhenius graph I got a parabola. My idea is to take the derivative at each point, meaning there would be different activation energies depending on the temperature, guessing it is due to enzymes dependency to heat. Does it make sens or would it be data forcing ? Thank you for your help
 
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  • #2
Tymothee Waldner said:
it is due to enzymes dependency to heat. Does it make sens or would it be data forcing ?
Enzymes have optimal temperature ranges, sometimes it's also a balance between activity and heat induced denaturation that makes you get an effective peak; where the activation energy is effectively the lowest. So the question is your data represents steady states, or sampled from average processes? If you can measure also the enzyme activity it would help I guess? Examples are for example the processes in brewing science, where one have optimal temp ranges for starch breakdown etc. But there I think the explainaation is the "effective" activity given that enzymes are also degraded from the higher temps.

/Fredrik
 

What is a Parabolic Arrhenius plot?

A Parabolic Arrhenius plot is a graphical representation of the relationship between the rate of a chemical reaction and the temperature at which it occurs. It is a type of Arrhenius plot that shows a parabolic curve instead of a straight line, indicating a change in the rate of reaction with temperature.

How is a Parabolic Arrhenius plot different from a regular Arrhenius plot?

A regular Arrhenius plot shows a linear relationship between the natural logarithm of the reaction rate and the reciprocal of the temperature. A Parabolic Arrhenius plot, on the other hand, shows a curved relationship between the reaction rate and temperature, indicating a change in the rate of reaction with temperature.

What is the significance of a Parabolic Arrhenius plot in chemical reactions?

A Parabolic Arrhenius plot is significant because it can provide information about the energy barrier or activation energy of a chemical reaction. The point on the curve where the slope changes represents the temperature at which the rate of reaction is the highest, indicating the activation energy of the reaction.

How is a Parabolic Arrhenius plot used in research?

A Parabolic Arrhenius plot is commonly used in research to determine the activation energy of a chemical reaction. By measuring the rate of reaction at different temperatures and plotting it on a Parabolic Arrhenius plot, researchers can estimate the activation energy and gain a better understanding of the reaction mechanism.

What are the limitations of a Parabolic Arrhenius plot?

One limitation of a Parabolic Arrhenius plot is that it assumes a single-step reaction mechanism. In reality, many chemical reactions involve multiple steps, and the plot may not accurately represent the overall rate of reaction. Additionally, the plot may be affected by experimental errors or uncertainties in the data.

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