CATALYSIS AND THE ENZYMES 



and the resulting curve of the enzyme effecjt 

 slightly approaches the axis of abscissas. At a 

 higher temperature the quantity of the active 

 enzyme decreases rapidly, and so does the re- 

 sulting effect, which becomes o at 70 degrees. 



90 

 80 

 70 

 CO 

 SO 

 , 40 

 30 

 20 

 fO 



!O 20 SO 40 JO 60 70 80 9O tOO'C 



Such superposition of two curves causes the 

 culmination of the resulting curve in E. In prac- 

 tice it is not advisable to use too high a temperature 

 for enzyme reactions. A medium temperature is 

 in most cases the best. We shall not be surprised 

 to see that this so-called Optimum of enzyme 

 reactions coincides with the temperature which 

 is most favourable for the life process. F. Frost 

 Blackman, in a series of most interesting papers, 

 showed that the dependence of different life 

 105 



