Assignment 3

The exercises in Assignment 3 of the EnzymeLab are designed to help you interpret Michaelis–Menten parameters for invertase by learning how to create and interpret plots of enzyme kinetics. In this experiment, you will add different concentrations of sucrose to invertase and then study the effects of sucrose concentration on invertase activity. Please reference and complete Assignment 3 and answer the questions below.


1 .		What was the relationship between [S] and invertase activity? Was this relationship what you expected? Why or why not? Explain your answers below. What was the V_max and K_M for invertase for this experiment? What do these values tell you about invertase and its affinity for sucrose as its substrate?

2 .		How did the values for V_max and K_M derived from each of the three plots compare? Were these values similar or different? If they were different, explain possible reasons for these differences. Which plot did you find easier to use for determining these values?

3 .		What do you think would happen if you carried out an experiment with concentrations of sucrose greater than 400 mM? Formulate a hypothesis, then carry out an experiment to test your hypothesis. What did you observe? Describe your results below.