Enzyme, redox, and cellular respiration

• What are enzymes primarily made of?

  Proteins
• How do enzymes increase the speed of chemical reactions?

  By lowering the activation energy
• What are the reactants that enzymes interact with called?

  Substrates
• Where does the interaction between an enzyme and its substrates occur?

  At the active site
• What are holoenzymes composed of?

  Apoenzymes and cofactors
• What can cofactors be?

  Metal ions or organic molecules
• Name two examples of metal ions that can act as cofactors.

  Fe and Zn
• What happens when an enzyme and substrate combine?

  The substrate is transformed into a product
• How can the binding of a substrate to an enzyme be influenced?

  By inhibitors
• What are the two types of inhibitors that can affect enzyme activity?

  Competitive and noncompetitive inhibitors
• What roles do enzymes play in biological processes?

  • Catalyze chemical reactions
  • Synthesize DNA and proteins
  • Break down sugars and fats for energy
  • Detoxify substances in the liver
• Why are enzymes considered essential for life?

  Without enzymes, life as we know it could not exist
• How do inhibitors affect the binding of substrates to enzymes?

  They can prevent or reduce the binding of substrates
• How many different digestive enzymes does the human body produce?

  22 different digestive enzymes
• Where can enzymes be found in our diet?

  In fruits, vegetables, meat, and grains
• What is the active site of an enzyme?

  The binding site on the substrate for the enzyme
• How are enzymes affected by temperature?

  Enzymes are greatly affected by temperature
• Who proposed the lock-and-key model of enzyme action?

  Emil Fischer
• What does the lock-and-key model illustrate about enzyme-substrate interaction?


  The substrate fits into the enzyme's active site like a key fits into a lock
• What modification did Daniel E. Koshland Jr. make to the lock-and-key model?


  He proposed that binding alters the configuration of both the enzyme and substrate
• What are some everyday uses of enzymes?


  • Proteases, amylases, and lipases in detergents
  • Drugs formulated from enzymes
  • Enhancing flavor and digestion in the food industry
  • Stonewashing in the textile industry
  • Improving cosmetics and personal care products
  • Paper refining and bleaching
  • Veterinary applications
  • Production of second-generation bioethanol
• What is the role of lactase in food production?


  It breaks down lactose into glucose and galactose
• How do enzymes contribute to industrial processes?


  They provide cheaper solutions and reduce environmental impact
• What is the significance of enzymes in the production of bioethanol?


  They are critical for the degradation of lignocellulosic biomass
• How do enzymes improve the quality of cosmetics and personal care products?


  By enhancing their quality or properties during manufacturing
• What is the role of enzymes in the paper industry?


  They are used for paper refining and bleaching
• How do enzymes affect the treatment of effluents in the veterinary field?


  They improve products and the production process
• What is the environmental impact of using enzymes in industrial processes?


  They help reduce environmental impact
• What is another name for an oxidation-reduction reaction?

  Redox reaction
• What characterizes an oxidation-reduction reaction?


  The oxidation number of a participating chemical species changes
• Can you name some common examples of oxidation-reduction reactions?


  Fire, rusting of metals, browning of fruit, respiration, and photosynthesis
• How do redox reactions influence enzymatic activity?


  They affect the oxidation state of substrates involved in enzymatic reactions
• What does oxidation involve in terms of electrons?


  Removal of one or more electrons from a substrate
• What is reduction in the context of redox reactions?


  Gain of one or more electrons by a substance
• What happens to a substance when it is oxidized?


  Another substance is simultaneously reduced
• Why are oxidation-reduction reactions important?


  They are the principal sources of energy on Earth
• What typically happens during the oxidation of molecules?


  It liberates large quantities of energy
• What is the main device for trapping and storing solar energy on Earth?

  The synthesis of reduced organic molecules (sugars) by photosynthetic green plants
• What are the key processes involved in oxidation-reduction reactions?

  • Oxidation: removal of electrons
  • Reduction: gain of electrons
  • Simultaneous occurrence of oxidation and reduction
  • Influence on energy production
• What is the energy-carrying molecule required for physiological functions in the body?


  Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)