Enzymes are proteins that act as catalysts for chemical reactions in living organisms.
Catalysts affect the speed of a reaction and are not consumed in the reaction. In this activity, students will isolate an enzyme from a potato and study its function as a catalyst. This activity demonstrates how the function of a catalytic protein can be obstructed or inhibited by the presence of certain chemicals. Scientific Inquiry Students conduct an investigation to observe how isomers of catechol inhibit the enzymatic activity of tyrosinase. Students use evidence from the investigation to propose explanations for how an enzyme is prevented from reacting.