Enzyme-substrate interaction?

Question

Say you have only a UV absorption spectrometry facility. Device an experiment to prove that there is an conformational change of the enzyme upon binding to the substrate.

Answer 1

The final answer to this question is really determined by the exact enzyme and substrate investigated.

UV absorption spectroscopy involves having a suitable light sources that emits different wavelengths of ultraviolet radiation. The molecular and atomic transitions that are involved are associated with electronic transitions within the molecules or atoms.

Make a suitable buffered solution of the enzyme and take a scanning UV spectra of the solution. Either add solid substrate and stir until dissolved or make up a buffered solution of the same concentration of the enzyme with a suitable concentration of the substrate and take a scanning UV spectra of this solution.

The differences in the absorption at different wavelengths should give the data you need to determine the change in the electronic transitions which will pinpoint any change in conformation.