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How can changes in temperature affect enzyme activity?

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Peptide — Protein The molecular structure of a peptide (a small protein) consists of a sequence of amino acids.

Temperature significantly influences enzyme activity because these proteins function most efficiently within a specific physiological range.1

Increasing the temperature has two primary, competing effects:
* Reaction Velocity: Initially, the rate of the chemical reaction increases as temperature rises.1
* Denaturation: As temperatures climb, the enzyme undergoes denaturation—a process where the protein's structure is altered or destroyed, rendering it ineffective.21

Because of this, increasing temperature only boosts metabolic rates within a limited range. If the temperature becomes too high, the resulting denaturation can be fatal to biological systems. Conversely, low temperatures can also be damaging; they may alter the shape of cold-sensitive enzymes, leading to a loss of activity. Ultimately, both excessive heat and cold impair the structural integrity and function of enzymes, which is why maintaining stable conditions is critical for biological health.12