1.7 - Enzyme action

• What is the function of an enzyme ?

  They lower the activation energy of the reaction it catalyses without being used up
• What’s the activation energy ?


  The minimum amount of energy needed to activate a reaction
• 2 conditions that must be satisfied in order for an enzyme catalysed reaction to happen ?


  must collide with sufficient energy to alter the atom arrangement, require an initial amount amount of energy to start
• What is formed when a substrate binds to an enzymes active site ?


  An enzyme-substrate complex
• What’s the principle idea of the induced fit model ?


  Suggests the enzyme is flexible and changes shape to mould itself around the substrate
• Explain the induced fit model ?


  The substrate enters the active site and induces a change in the active sites shape, enabling an enzyme-substrate complex to form
• How does an enzyme lower the activation energy ?


  The enzyme puts strain on the substrate molecule and the bonds distort in the substrate therefore lowering the activation energy needed to break the bonds
• 1 way the lock + key model is different to the induced fit model ?


  The active site starts off complementary to the substrate