This hands-on course provides practical experience in enzyme-catalyzed reactions, enzyme kinetics, and the use of enzymes in analytical applications, along with a mini project focused on enzyme isolation and characterization. Key components include:

Enzyme-Catalyzed Reactions:

• Time Course of Reaction: Monitoring the progress of enzyme-catalyzed reactions over time to understand reaction kinetics.
• Effects of Various Factors on Reaction Rate:
  • Enzyme Concentration: Investigating how varying enzyme concentrations affect the reaction rate.
  • pH: Examining the influence of pH on enzyme activity and stability.
  • Temperature: Studying the effect of temperature on enzyme kinetics and the determination of optimal temperature.
  • Substrate Concentration: Analyzing how changes in substrate concentration impact the reaction rate and enzyme saturation.
  • Activators and Inhibitors: Exploring the effects of activators and inhibitors on enzyme activity and understanding different types of enzyme inhibition.
• Enzyme Specificity: Assessing the specificity of enzymes for their substrates.
• Protease Activity in Plant Extracts: Measuring and characterizing protease activity in various plant extracts.
• Purification of Enzymes from Plant Juice: Techniques for isolating and purifying enzymes from plant sources.
• Use of Enzymes as Analytical Tools: Practical applications of enzymes in analytical biochemistry, such as the estimation of urea in urine using urease.

Mini Project:

• Isolation, Purification, and Characterization of a Known Enzyme: A comprehensive project where students isolate a specific enzyme, purify it, and characterize its properties, including activity, kinetics, and substrate specificity.