Which factors are known to affect enzyme activity?

Enzyme activity is significantly influenced by several factors, among which temperature, pH, and substrate concentration are the most critical.

Temperature affects enzyme activity because each enzyme has an optimal temperature range where it performs best. Too low a temperature can slow down the enzymatic reactions, while excessively high temperatures can denature enzymes, leading to a loss of function.

The pH level also plays a crucial role, as each enzyme operates best within a specific pH range. Deviations from this optimal pH can disrupt the ionic and hydrogen bonds that help maintain the enzyme's shape, ultimately affecting its activity.

Substrate concentration is another vital factor; up to a certain point, increasing substrate concentration will enhance the rate of reaction, as more substrate molecules are available for the enzyme to act upon. However, this increase will reach a saturation point where all active sites of the enzyme molecules are occupied, and additional substrate will not increase the rate of reaction further.

These factors are well-established in biochemistry and are essential for understanding how enzymes function within biological systems.