enzymes

• Why are enzymes important for living cells?

  They enable cells to carry out numerous chemical reactions quickly.
• What is the problem with increasing the temperature to speed up chemical reactions?

  High temperatures can damage cells and increase non-useful reactions.
• What is a catalyst?

  A catalyst is a substance that increases the speed of a chemical reaction without being changed or used up.
• How does a catalyst differ from an enzyme?

  An enzyme is a specific type of catalyst made by living organisms.
• What are enzymes primarily made of?

  Enzymes are large proteins made up of long chains of amino acids.
• What determines the specific shape of an enzyme?

  The specific sequence of amino acids in the chain determines the enzyme's shape.
• What is a substrate in the context of enzyme action?

  A substrate is a reactant that an enzyme acts upon in a chemical reaction.
• What is the role of the active site in an enzyme?

  The active site is a region of the enzyme that has a unique shape complementary to the substrate.
• What happens if a substrate does not fit the active site of an enzyme?

  If the substrate doesn't fit, the reaction won't be catalyzed.
• What are the two main models of enzyme action discussed?

  The two models are the lock and key model and the induced fit model.
• How did the lock and key model describe enzyme action?

  It suggested that substrates fit perfectly into the active site like a key in a lock.
• What does the induced fit model propose about enzyme action?

  The induced fit model proposes that the enzyme changes shape slightly to fit the substrate better.
• How can you visualize the induced fit model using a common analogy?

  It can be visualized as putting your hand into a rubber glove that molds around your hand.
• What are the key features of enzymes?

  • Enzymes are biological catalysts made by living organisms.
  • They are large proteins composed of amino acids.
  • They have an active site that is specific to substrates.
  • They speed up chemical reactions without being consumed.
• What are the differences between the lock and key model and the induced fit model?

  • Lock and Key Model:
  • Substrates fit perfectly into the active site.
  • Induced Fit Model:
  • Enzyme changes shape slightly to fit the substrate better.