Enzymes: Catalysts for Change

Enzymes do the work of life by speeding up chemical reactions that would otherwise only occur at high temperatures or pH levels, or under extreme pressure. Recombinant DNA and genetic engineering would not be possible without the actions of enzymes. Many genetic diseases are caused by mutations that lead to amino acid changes in enzymes. Enzymes are important materials for consumer products, food processing and food production.

In this project, students find and generate correlations with data generated by professional researchers who use, purify and study enzymes. They investigate what kind of chemistry an enzyme performs, what conditions it needs, how cells regulate enzyme production and activity, how structure and function are related, how changes in the protein or RNA sequences affect structure and activity.