Enzymes

• What are enzymes primarily made of?


  Proteins
• What is the role of digestive enzymes?


  They break food down into small soluble molecules for absorption.
• How do digestive enzymes assist in the digestion of an apple?


  They break it down into small food molecules in the digestive system.
• What are the molecules that enzymes act upon called?


  Substrates
• What is the active site of an enzyme?


  It is the part of the enzyme where substrates bind.
• How do the shapes of substrates and active sites relate to enzyme function?


  They are complementary, allowing the substrate to bind to the enzyme.
• What happens to the substrate when it binds to the enzyme?


  The enzyme breaks bonds within the substrate to produce new molecules.
• What are the molecules produced by enzymes called?


  Products
• What happens to the enzyme after the reaction is complete?


  The enzyme is freed up to bond with another substrate.
• What are the uses of the products of digestion?

  • Build new carbohydrates
  • Build new lipids
  • Build new proteins
• What is the function of synthesis enzymes?


  They build new substances from smaller molecules.
• How does the lock and key theory explain enzyme specificity?


  It illustrates that only the correctly shaped substrate fits into the enzyme's active site.
• Why are different enzymes specific to their substrates?


  Due to the unique shape of their active sites.
• What happens if the active site is not complementary to the substrate?


  The substrate will not bind, and the reaction will not occur.
• What analogy is used to explain enzyme specificity?


  The lock and key analogy.
• What does it mean if a key does not fit a lock in the context of enzymes?


  The enzyme will not attach to the substrate, and the reaction will not work.
• What are the key features of enzymes?


  • Enzymes are proteins
  • They catalyze reactions
  • They have specific active sites
  • They can break down or synthesize substances
• What is the difference between digestive enzymes and synthesis enzymes?

  • Digestive enzymes break down substrates
  • Synthesis enzymes build new substances
• What is the optimum temperature for an enzyme?


  The temperature at which the enzyme works best
• Why do different enzymes have different optimum temperatures?


  Because each enzyme has a unique structure and function
• How does temperature affect enzyme activity?


  • Enzyme activity increases with temperature up to the optimum
  • At optimum temperature (around 37° C for humans), activity peaks
  • Beyond optimum temperature, enzyme activity decreases
• What is the normal body temperature for humans?


  About 37° C
• What happens to enzyme activity when moving away from the optimum temperature?


  Enzyme activity decreases
• What is the relationship between temperature and kinetic energy in enzymes?


  Higher temperatures increase kinetic energy, leading to more collisions
• What occurs to enzyme activity at temperatures lower than 37° C?


  There is an increasing activity of the enzyme
• What happens to enzyme activity after the optimum temperature is reached?


  Enzyme activity decreases
• What is the optimum pH for an enzyme?


  The pH at which enzyme activity is highest
• Why do different enzymes have different optimum pH values?


  Because they function in different environments
• Why does enzyme activity go to zero at high temperatures?


  Enzymes are denatured by high temperatures
• What does a pH scale range from?


  • The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14.
  • A pH of around 7 is neutral.
  • A pH of around 0 is very acidic.
  • A pH of around 14 is very alkaline.
• What type of pH do enzymes in the human stomach work best at?


  Acidic pH
• What does it mean for an enzyme to be denatured?


  The shape of the active site is altered, preventing substrate binding
• What type of pH do enzymes in the small intestine work best at?


  Alkaline pH
• What happens to enzyme activity when moving away from the optimum pH?


  Enzyme activity decreases
• How is enzyme activity related to pH changes?


  • Enzyme activity is highest at optimum pH.
  • Deviation from optimum pH decreases enzyme activity.
  • Extreme pH can denature enzymes.
• How does the shape of a denatured enzyme differ from a normal enzyme?

  The active site of a denatured enzyme is permanently altered
• What does a graph of enzyme activity at different pH values typically look like?


  A bell-shaped curve peaking at the optimum pH
• What happens to enzymes at extreme pH conditions?

  They are denatured
• What is the analogy used to describe the relationship between an enzyme and its substrate?


  The key fits into the lock
• What is the effect of denaturation on an enzyme's active site?

  The shape of the active site is altered