Imagine That You Are Conducting an Experiment on an Enzyme

Multiple Choice

Imagine that you are conducting an experiment on an enzyme known as sucrase. This enzyme is synthesized and used by yeast cells to break down the disaccharide sucrose (table sugar) into the monosaccharides glucose and fructose. You decide to conduct an experiment to test whether the sucrase enzyme can break down the artificial sweetener sucralose. Sucralose (a ʺchlorinatedʺ carbohydrate) has some chemical similarity to sucrose, but is different in that three of its hydroxyl groups are missing and replaced with chlorine atoms instead. Based on the details provided in this scenario, do you think the sucrase enzyme will be able to interact with sucralose?

A) No; sucralose is an ion and not a true carbohydrate.
B) No; all enzymes are highly specific and can react with only a specific substrate.
C) Yes; enzymes such as sucrase are not specific for their substrate.
D) Yes; the enzymes in human cells can interact with artificial sweeteners as if they were sugars.