Working with Enzymes - Where Is Lactose Digested? An Enzyme Assay for Nutritional Biochemistry Laboratories

• Sandi R. Pope ^[1] ; Tonya D. Tolleson ^[1] ; R. Jill Williams ^[1] ; Russell D. Underhill ^[1] ; S. Todd Deal ^[1]
  1. [1] Georgia Southern University

     Georgia Southern University

     Estados Unidos

     
• Localización: Journal of chemical education, ISSN 0021-9584, Vol. 75, Nº 6 (June), 1998, págs. 761-761
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • At Georgia Southern University, we offer a sophomore-level introductory biochemistry course that is aimed at nutrition and chemistry education majors. The laboratory portion of this course has long lacked an experimental introduction to enzymes. We have developed a simple enzyme assay utilizing lactase enzyme from crushed LactAid tablets and a 5% lactose solution ("synthetic milk"). In the experiment, the students assay the activity of the enzyme on the "synthetic milk" at pHs of approximately 1, 6, and 8 with the stated goal of determining where lactose functions in the digestive tract. The activity of the lactase may be followed chromatographically or spectrophotometrically. The experiment, which is actually a simple pH assay, is easily implemented in allied health chemistry laboratory courses and readily lends itself to adaptation for more complex kinetic assays in upper-level biochemistry laboratory courses. The experimental details, including a list of required supplies and hints for implementation, are provided.