Enzymes

• What is one of the most important functions of proteins?


  To act as a catalyst
• What would happen without catalysts in biological systems?

  Most reactions would occur very slowly
• What are enzymes classified as?

  Biological catalysts
• How do enzymes speed up reactions?

  By lowering the activation energy
• What type of proteins are all enzymes?

  Globular proteins
• What happens to enzymes during a reaction?

  They remain unchanged and can be reused
• Why are enzymes described as specific?

  Active sites complementary to the substrate
• What can affect enzyme activity?

  Temperature and pH changes
• What is the role of an enzyme?

  To catalyze biochemical reactions
• Why are enzymes effective in tiny quantities?

  They are not consumed in reactions
• What happens if an amino acid in the active site changes?

  It could prevent the enzyme from functioning
• How do enzymes lower activation energy?

  By binding and straining reactant bonds
• What is activation energy?

  The minimum amount of energy required to start a reaction by lowering
• How do enzymes facilitate the conversion of substrates into products?

  By forming an enzyme-substrate complex
• What happens when the substrate binds to the active site?

  Reactants react and products are released
• What is the significance of the active site in enzymes?

  It is where the substrate binds
• What are the characteristics of enzymes?

  • All biological catalysts
  • Sensitive to temperature and pH
  • Can denature at high temperatures
  • Specific in reactions they catalyze
  • Remain unchanged after reactions
• How do enzymes lower activation energy?

  1. Active site has charges
  2. Substrate enters active site
  3. Opposite charges attract, distorting substrate
  4. Bonds break/form, leading to products
  5. Active site is available again
• What is the process of enzyme catalysis?

  1. Substrate binds to active site
  2. Enzyme-substrate complex forms
  3. Reaction occurs, products released
  4. Enzyme remains unchanged