How do temperature and pH influence enzyme activity?

Temperature and pH play crucial roles in determining enzyme activity, primarily through their effects on the enzyme's structure and functionality. Each enzyme has an optimal temperature and pH at which it functions most effectively. Deviating from these optimal conditions can lead to significant changes in enzyme behavior.

When temperatures become too high or too low, or when the pH strays from the enzyme's ideal range, the three-dimensional structure of the enzyme can change, a process known as denaturation. Denatured enzymes lose their proper shape, and since the active site—the region where substrate molecules bind—can no longer accommodate the substrate effectively, the enzyme's catalytic activity is severely impaired or rendered entirely ineffective.

Therefore, the statement that extreme conditions can denature enzymes accurately captures the critical relationship between temperature, pH, and enzyme activity. This concept helps explain why biological systems must maintain homeostasis to ensure optimal enzyme activity, which is essential for various biochemical reactions necessary for life.