| Lesson | Topic | Essential Idea and Objective(s) | IB Curriculum Connections | Activities |
| 1 | Metabolism | Metabolism is the sum of the chemical reactions that occur within living organisms.
Metabolic reactions can be intracellular or extracellular.
Metabolic processes may have a series of steps in the form of a metabolic pathway, which can be linear or cyclical.
Metabolic processes can be anabolic or catabolic.
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Metabolism is the web of all the enzyme-catalyzed reactions in a cell or organism (2.1.U4). Metabolic pathways consist of chains and cycles of enzyme-catalyzed reactions (8.1.U1). |
Initial Knowledge Audit (ICI) HHMI Amylase evolution DBQ |
| 2 | Enzyme Structure | Enzymes are globular proteins that act as catalysts by having an active site to which specific substrates temporarily bind by induced fit.
Coenzymes and cofactors are molecules that help an enzyme to function appropriately.
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Enzymes have an active site to which specific substrates bind (2.5.U1). | |
| 3 | Enzyme Function | Each step in a metabolic pathway is catalyzed by a specific enzyme.
Enzyme catalysis involves molecular motion and the collision of substrates with the active site.
Enzymes lower the activation energy by creating a new reaction pathway.
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Enzyme catalysis involves molecular motion and the collision of substrates with the active site (2.5.U2). Enzymes lower the activation energy of the chemical reactions that they catalyze (8.1.U2). |
Enzymes exposed (A&B) Enzyme function role plays: A&B: How 'super-enzymes' that eat plastics could curb our waste problem A&B: Engineering enzymes to help solve the planet's plastic problem A&B: Wax worm saliva rapidly breaks down plastic bags, scientists discover |
| 4 | Enzyme Rate Factors | Temperature, pH and substrate concentration affect the rate of activity of enzymes.
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Temperature, pH,and substrate concentration affect the rate of activity of enzymes (2.5.U3). Denaturation of proteins by heat or by deviation of pH from the optimum (2.4.A2). Enzymes are denatured (2.5.U4). |
Factors that affect enzymes notes A&B: Heat Beaters reading |
| 5 | Enzyme Inhibition | Enzyme action can be inhibited or promoted by the presence of other molecules that temporarily or permanently bind to them.
Inhibitors can be either competitive or noncompetitive.
The effect of a competitive inhibitor can be reduced by increasing substrate concentration, but this has no effect on noncompetitive inhibition.
Metabolic pathways can be controlled by end-product inhibition.
Advances in computing technology have led to rapid identification of potential enzyme inhibitors with pharmaceutical applications.
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Enzyme inhibitors can be competitive or noncompetitive (8.1.U3). Metabolic pathways can be controlled by end-product inhibition (8.1.U4). End-product inhibition of the pathway that converts threonine is isoleucine (8.1.A1). Distinguish different types of inhibition from graphs at specified substrate concentration (8.1.S2). Developments in scientific research follow improvements in computing- developments in bioinformatics, such as the interrogation of databases have facilitated research into metabolic pathways (8.1.NOS). Use of databases to identify potential new anti-malarial drugs (8.1.A2). |
Simulations
Serengeti Rules (Sean Carroll book)
Aspirin as an irreversible enzyme inhibitor from TPWKY (45:20 - 49:15 reduces risk of blood clot formation in heart attack patients) Quantitative Biology with Catalase Floating Disk Technique – Wandering through Prairie Wonders |
| 6 | Enzyme Experiments | Design an experimental investigation of a factor affecting enzyme activity.
Accurate, quantitative measurements in enzyme experiments require replicates to ensure reliability.
Calculate the rate of reaction for enzyme-controlled reactions.
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Design of experiments to test the effect of temperature, pH, and substrate concentration on the activity of enzymes (2.5.S1). Experimental investigation of a factor affecting enzyme activity (Practical 3) (2.5.S2). Experimental design-accurate, quantitative measurements in enzyme experiments require replicates to ensure reliability (2.5.NOS). Calculating and plotting rates of reaction from raw experimental results (8.1.S1). |
Measuring enzyme reaction rates Intro to enzyme experimental techniques Enzyme inquiry lab introduction Enzyme Labs: |
| 7 | Industrial Applications | Immobilized enzymes are widely used in industry, such as in the production of lactose-free milk.
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Immobilized enzymes are widely used in industry (2.5.U5). Methods of production of lactose-free milk and its advantages (2.5.A1). |
Enzymes in Industry notes Lactase lab (K. Foglia) A&B: Adam Garske: How designing brand-new enzymes could change the world |
| 8 | Unit Wrap Up and Review | Not applicable | Not applicable |
Kahoot review (ICTD) Quizizz Review (OCI) 1 page-summary (OCI) Final Knowledge Audit (ICI) |
| 9 | Assessment | Not applicable | Not applicable |