Cells and pH

[Emily_38]

Hey! If you could help me at all with these questions that would be great!

What factors might influence the pH of cells?
Why might cells need to maintain a constant pH environment?
How do cells regulate pH?

Thanx

[mith]

What do you think?

[MichaelXY]

Show some effort and help will follow.

[luay]

1.
2.
3.
well you need to show that you know something about the topic so i can help you

[Ciwan]

Hi

I can answer your 2nd questions (I think)

Cells need to maintain a constant pH for their enzymes. Enzymes are denatured by pH changes. So the cell always trys and keep the pH of the cell surroundings at an optimum for the enzymes.

I hope that helped (that's all I know)

[biohazard]

Well, few quick answers:

1. Do you mean the pH inside or outside the cells? Although the answer is partially the same in both: cellular metabolism affects the cytoplasmic pH, and as a result also the pH of the surrounding medium. The growth environment naturally affects as well. Blood cells, for example, have their surroundings regulated on a systemic level, whereas, say, a helicobacter pylori in your stomach has completely different factors affecting its surroundings - and thus its environment is much more acidic.

2. Like someone already said, enzymatic activity is one, important area, affecting all parts of cellular activities and metabolism. Furthermore, proteins and nucleic acids often denature in extreme pH values. Finally in very high or low pH the integrity of cell membrane will be lost, although some specialist cell types can survive in rather hostile environment by different means.

3. Individual cells regulate their pH primarily by transport of protons in and out the cell - increasing H concentration lowers the pH and vice versa. On organism level, there are several methods, such as buffering, respiration and secretion.

- hope these helped a bit!