Lactase Laboratory Report

Lab #6: Specificity of Enzyme

Lactase Laboratory Report

Introduction

Enzymes are biomolecules that catalyze or assist chemical reactions. ("Enzyme Information - Disabled World", n.d.,) Without enzymes it would be impossible for an organism to carry out chemical reactions. Enzymes are proteins that carry a chemical reaction for a specific substance or nutrient. For example, the digestive enzymes help food to be broken down so it can be absorbed. Enzymes can either initiate the reaction or speed it up. Substrates are the chemicals that are transformed by enzymes. (Gunsch & Foster, 2014) Reactants are the chemicals in the absence of enzymes. Metabolic pathways that occur in a cell are determined by a set of enzymes which are selective for their substrates and catalyze only a few reactions among the many possibilities.

Lactase is an enzyme found in the digestive system. It is essential to the complete digestion of sugar in whole milk and milk products. Lactase specifically breaks down lactose, a complex sugar. Lactase cannot be absorbed by the body unless it is broken down by lactase into glucose and galactose. According to webMD, “Lacking lactase in their intestines, a person consuming dairy products may experience the symptoms of lactose intolerance…Abdominal cramping, flatulence (gas) and diarrhea can occur when a lactose intolerant person consumes milk products.” ("Lactase Enzyme oral : Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Pictures, Warnings & Dosing - WebMD", n.d.) Lactase is not recommended for use in CHILDREN younger than 4 years of age. Safety and effectiveness in this age group have not been confirmed. (Kluwer, 2014)

The purpose of this experiment was to discover the specificity of the enzyme lactase to a spec...

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...ed April 3, 2014, from http://www.wisegeek.org/what-are-enzymes.htm

Kluwer, W. (2014, March 1). Lactase Capsules: Indications, Side Effects, Warnings - Drugs.com. Retrieved April 2, 2014, from http://www.drugs.com/cdi/lactase.html

Lactase Enzyme oral : Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Pictures, Warnings & Dosing - WebMD. (2014, March 1). WebMD. Retrieved , from http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-5506-Lactase+Enzyme+Oral.aspx?drugid=5506&drugname=Lactase+Enzyme+Oral

Mader, S. S. (2010). Metabolism: Energy and Enzymes. In K. G. Lyle-Ippolito, & A. T. Storfer (Ed.), Inquiry into life (13th ed., pp. 105-107). Princeton, N.J: McGraw Hill.

IN TEXT CITATION

("Enzyme Information - Disabled World", n.d.,)

(Gunsch & Foster, 2014)

(Kluwer, 2014)

("Lactase Enzyme oral : Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Pictures, Warnings & Dosing - WebMD", n.d.)

(Mader, 2010, p. xx)