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Enzyme Lab: Demonstration
Background Information
First, you need a little background about gelatin… and it may be more than you ever wanted to
know. Do you know what Jell-O is really made from? Are you ready? That sweet colorful treat is actually
made out of hides, bones, and inedible connecting tissue from animals butchered for meat. No? Yup! All
gelatin is made out of discarded animal parts — the tough parts: bone and skin. Moreover, all these tough
parts are made of proteins. In fact, the extracted gelatin is a protein.
As with some other tropical fruits, the pineapple fruit contains an enzyme that breaks down, or
digests, protein. Enzymes are protein molecules that speed up chemical reactions in living organisms.
Enzymes are very specific in their action. Some enzymes cause molecules to separate while others may
join molecules together. The protease (protein-digesting) enzyme in pineapple is called bromelain,
which is extracted and sold in such products as Schilling's Meat Tenderizer.
Grading
Data Table – 6pts
Analysis Questions – 24pts
Total Points – 30pts
Materials
2 Petri Dishes with Jello
Sharpie Marker
Canned Pinapple
Fresh Pineapple
Procedure
1. In the data table, record your observations of the jello, canned pineapple, and fresh pineapple
individually.
2. Place 2 cups in front of you and your partner.
3. Use the Sharpie to label each lid with you and your partner’s initials as well as the class period.
4. Use the Sharpie to label one cup “Canned” and the other cup “Fresh.”
5. Use the spoons provided to place one piece of fresh pineapple on the jello in the cup marked
“Fresh.”
6. Use the spoon provided to place one piece of canned pineapple on the jello in the cup marked
“Canned.”
7. Place cups off to one side and wait 25 minutes.
Procedure, cont. (24 hours later)
1. Examine the petri dishes.
2. Record observations in the data table.
3. Raise your hand for your plates to be collected.
4. After 24 hours, record observations.
5. Throw plates out at the garbage bags.
Analysis Questions
1. Identify the enzyme and substrate used in this experiment. (2pts)
2. Describe what happened to the jello with fresh pineapple using the concepts of enzymes and
substrates. (6pts)
3. How could the canning process change the enzyme “bromelain"? (4pts)
4. Explain what this experiment demonstrated about enzymes. (6pts)
5. In your own words, describe how enzymes interact with other molecules in a cell. (6pts)
Reactant
Before Reaction
After 25 minutes
After 24 hours
Jello w/ Canned
Pineapple
Jello w/ Fresh
Pineapple