Enzymes

• What are enzymes?

  Biological catalysts that speed up reactions by lowering activation energy
• How do enzymes speed up the rate of reaction?

  By lowering the activation energy through an alternate energy pathway
• What is meant by 'lower activation energy'?

  It refers to the reduced energy barrier needed for a reaction to occur
• What type of biological molecule are enzymes made from?

  Proteins
• What is the structure of an enzyme based on its monomer?

  Enzymes are made of amino acids, which are linked together in a specific sequence
• What is the significance of the active site in enzymes?

  • Formed at the tertiary structure level
  • Created by interactions among R groups
  • Determines the shape and specificity of the enzyme
• What type of proteins are enzymes classified as?

  Globular proteins
• What are the two types of enzymes based on their location?

  • Intracellular enzymes (e.g., catalase)
  • Extracellular enzymes (e.g., amylase)
• What is the function of catalase?

  To convert hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen
• Why are extracellular enzymes important for digestion?

  Because food being digested is too large to enter the cell
• What does amylase do?

  It hydrolyses starch into simple sugars
• What role do enzymes play in metabolic reactions?

  • Catalyse chemical reactions
  • Make up metabolic pathways
  • Allow efficient and faster metabolic processes
• What is the primary function of enzymes in the body?

  To catalyse chemical reactions in metabolic pathways
• How do enzymes affect the rate of metabolic processes?

  They allow metabolic processes to occur at a much faster rate
• What is the role of the R groups in the structure of enzymes?

  They interact to create the complex 3D tertiary structure
• What is the relationship between the shape of the active site and enzyme function?

  The shape of the active site determines the specificity of the enzyme