Enzyme Lab Report

The first test that gave us an indication that catharant hus ovalis (species Z), is most closely related to Catharanthus roseus (Rosy periwinkle) is test 5 (Test for enzyme M). We found that both species Z and rosy periwinkle have enzyme m present which suggests that share similar enzymes, which helps prove that species Z can produce the same alkaloids. Enzymes are used to increase reaction and help with digestion/ synthesis. Enzyme m, which is present in periwinkle, is used to synthesize the alkaloids of interest. We tested the 3 other species to see if this enzyme was present to help bring us to our conclusion of which is most similar to rosy periwinkle. To perform this lab, we had a tray with 4 smaller scoops of indicator power (one for each species) and added one drop of plant extract to the correctly labeled powder.

Rosy periwinkle contains enzyme m, so whichever species fizzed means they do as well. Both species z and evening primrose (species y) fizzed up but, species z had more common traits with periwinkle then species y did, which is why we believe its species Z and not Y. Enzyme m synthesizes alkaloids which is shown in both rosy periwinkle and species Z. This evidence indicates to us that because rosy periwinkle and species Z have similar enzymes, they both also share similar DNA which proves they both must produce alkaloids. Enzymes code for many qualities in a flower, its job is to catalyze a biochemical reaction and makes the rearrangement of a molecules chemical group easier. In this case, enzyme m helps synthesize alkaloids of interest. This helps us bring us to our conclusion that they must have the same DNA because they have the same enzyme that codes for the same job in synthesizing alkaloids. The experiment we conduced included having 4 different indicator powders for each species; followed by adding 1 drop of plant extract to each