Enzyme introduction

• What are enzymes primarily made of?

  Large proteins
• Why are enzymes important for living cells?

  They speed up chemical reactions
• What is a catalyst?

  A substance that speeds up reactions
• How do catalysts differ from enzymes?

  Enzymes are biological catalysts
• What is the role of the active site in an enzyme?

  It binds to substrates
• What happens if a substrate does not fit the active site?

  The reaction won't be catalyzed
• What are the two main models of enzyme action?

  Lock and key model, induced fit model
• How does the induced fit model differ from the lock and key model?

  Enzymes change shape to fit substrates
• What is the process of enzyme action?

  • Enzymes speed up reactions
  • Substrates bind to active site
  • Reactions produce products
  • Enzymes remain unchanged
• Describe the lock and key model of enzyme action.

  • Substrates fit perfectly into active site
  • No change in enzyme shape
  • Simple representation of enzyme action
• Describe the induced fit model of enzyme action.

  • Active site molds around substrate
  • Enzyme changes shape slightly
  • More accurate representation of enzyme action
• What is a substrate in the context of enzymes?

  A reactant that enzymes act on
• Why is increasing temperature not a feasible way to speed up reactions in living organisms?

  It can damage cells and speed unwanted reactions
• What is the definition of a biological catalyst?

  An enzyme made by living organisms
• How do enzymes contribute to chemical reactions?

  They lower the activation energy required
• How can you visualize the induced fit model?

  Like a hand fitting into a glove