Enzyme action

• Why are enzymes important?

  They catalyze processes necessary for life
• What type of proteins are enzymes?

  Globular proteins
• How do enzymes affect substrate reactions?

  They cause reactions to occur faster
• What type of reaction is the synthesis of large polymer-based components?

  An anabolic reaction
• What is released from large organic molecules in metabolic pathways?

  Energy
• What type of reactions are catabolic reactions?

  Reactions that release energy
• What process is catalyzed by enzymes during digestion?

  Digestion of food
• What is the maximum rate of reaction called for enzymes?

  Vmax
• What does the specificity of an enzyme refer to?

  Each enzyme catalyzes one biochemical reaction
• How do enzymes help molecules collide?

  They reduce the activation energy required
• What is the active site of an enzyme?

  An area that binds to a specific substrate
• What happens when a substrate binds to the active site?

  An enzyme-substrate complex is formed
• What is formed after the substrate reacts in the enzyme-substrate complex?

  An enzyme-product complex
• What happens to the enzyme after the products are released?

  The enzyme remains unchanged
• How do R-groups interact with substrates?

  They form temporary bonds
• What is the induced fit hypothesis?

  The active site changes shape slightly upon substrate binding
• What does the initial weak reaction between enzyme and substrate lead to?

  Changes in the enzyme's tertiary structure
• What does the induced fit strengthen?

  The binding between enzyme and substrate
• What do intracellular enzymes do?

  Act within cells
• What is an example of an intracellular enzyme?

  Catalase
• What does catalase do?

  Breaks down hydrogen peroxide
• What are extracellular enzymes?

  Enzymes that work outside the cell
• Why do reactions need substrates constantly supplied?

  To ensure continuous enzymatic activity
• What do nutrients often need to be before entering the cell?

  Broken down into smaller units
• What is the role of enzymes in breaking down large nutrients?

  To facilitate their absorption into cells
• How do single-celled organisms use extracellular enzymes?

  To break down molecules in their environment
• What is the role of enzymes in multicellular organisms?

  To aid in digestion
• What is the process of starch digestion?

  Starch is broken down into maltose
• Which enzyme breaks down starch into maltose?

  Amylase
• Where is amylase produced?

  Salivary glands and pancreas
• What happens to maltose in the small intestine?

  It is broken down into glucose
• What type of enzyme is protease?

  It catalyzes the digestion of proteins
• What do amino acids produced by proteases do?

  They can be absorbed by cells
• Where are amino acids absorbed after digestion?

  By the cells lining the digestive system