Enzyme Question

[spooks24]

This came up in class today and for the life of me, I can't not think of the answer.

Why would you include hydrochloric acid to your enzyme? And what would happen if you did?

[grannysmith]

Remember that extremes in pH can denature an enzyme, but it truly depends on what kind of enzyme we're dealing with. If we're to assume that the optimum pH of said enzyme is around 7, adding HCl will make the medium highly acidic; the pH may be so low so as to be beyond the optimum pH range of the enzyme. If this was to happen, then recall the definition of denaturation. That is, bonds within the protein will be irreversibly disrupted, altering the tertiary structure and hence the active site of the enzyme. If thus occurs, then the enzyme is unable to bind to its substrate and thus it cannot function.

Hope this helps