NEET 2026
- Exam
- NEET
- Year
- 2026
- Subject
- Biology
- Chapter
- Chapter
NEET 2026 · Biology · Chapter
During a laboratory experiment, a student accidentally boils a...
During a laboratory experiment, a student accidentally boils a sample of salivary amylase before adding it to a starch solution. Which of the following best explains the most likely outcome of this experiment?
Options
- AThe rate of starch digestion will significantly increase due to higher kinetic energy.
- BThe enzyme will denature and fail to break down the starch.
- CThe enzyme will polymerize into a more complex and stable tertiary structure.
- DThe starch will be incorrectly broken down into amino acids instead of maltose.
Correct answer
B. The enzyme will denature and fail to break down the starch.
Step-by-step solution
Salivary amylase is a proteinaceous enzyme responsible for the catalytic breakdown of starch into maltose.
Enzymes are highly sensitive to temperature changes and function optimally within a specific temperature range. Boiling the enzyme exposes it to temperatures far above its optimum.
The high thermal energy disrupts the weak interactions, such as hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions, that maintain the enzyme's three-dimensional tertiary structure.
This leads to the denaturation of the enzyme, causing it to lose its specific active site conformation. Without an intact active site, the enzyme can no longer bind to its substrate.
Consequently, the denatured salivary amylase will fail to break down the starch.
Answer: The enzyme will denature and fail to break down the starch.
Enzymes are highly sensitive to temperature changes and function optimally within a specific temperature range. Boiling the enzyme exposes it to temperatures far above its optimum.
The high thermal energy disrupts the weak interactions, such as hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions, that maintain the enzyme's three-dimensional tertiary structure.
This leads to the denaturation of the enzyme, causing it to lose its specific active site conformation. Without an intact active site, the enzyme can no longer bind to its substrate.
Consequently, the denatured salivary amylase will fail to break down the starch.
Answer: The enzyme will denature and fail to break down the starch.