77 



st.uit iii the case of enzymes, four important «•< »i i « I i t i < ■ 

 nixed: l sibilitj ; 2 gi adual d< 



liinatioii of the enzyme with products "t" th< 



Of these four influences the onlj hi<-li could bi 



for an increase in the activity of the enzyme in this 



process the enzyme by its action produc . which 



its own activity. In Bome casi 

 invertase on cane sugar these are acid bodies, ;i u. 

 acidity favoring the action "t" this enzyme. 



The other influences all tend to retard the 

 lower the value of K. Negative autocatalj 



produces products which interfere with itivity. Gradual d< 



tion of the enzyme and its union with the product '.ill 



manifestly also decrease its power. '1*1 • plenty i 



both <>l" these processes may occur. 



Reversibility of Enzyme Action 



Bui the mosl important »>t' all the ca 

 activity is undoubtedly reversibilii n, which 



tin- law of mass action (page 25 . If we t 

 r, the equation is : 



CH CH CI il ll.o-. . i | 



•livl but) rati 



The equilibrium point is ool bo near the i»< >^it i« .n of com] 



- in the case of the inversion o 

 tendency for tin- bodies produced l>\ the hydrolvs 

 the original Bubstanees is quite marked, bo thai the react 



end before all the ethyl butyrate lias been d iposed 



before the equilibrium point is reached, there will i 

 Bively increasing opposition to the breakdown 

 que which, when enzymes are used to 



velocity constant, as determined b) the 

 fall as the reaction proceeds < n a m 



and butyric acid there is \<-v\ bIo^i syntl 

 again lipase accelerates the pro t indt 



u ithin a short time. Ethyl butyral 

 periments because, on account of its od< r 

 Thus, if the alcohol and acid be mi 

 luit if some lipase be added, it \\ ill i 

 action of lipase lias also been dem< 



