3.3 Environmental Impacts on Enzyme Function

• What are enzymes considered in biological systems?

  Biological catalysts
• Enzymes provide an alternative pathway for reactions with lower energy requirements.


  True
• The active site on the enzyme interacts with the substrate to form the enzyme-substrate complex.
• Enzymes reduce the activation energy required for a reaction to proceed.
• Why are enzymes highly specific to their substrates?

  Active site shape
• Steps of enzyme-substrate interaction

  1️⃣ Enzyme binds to substrate at active site

  2️⃣ Enzyme-substrate complex forms

  3️⃣ Reaction proceeds with lower activation energy

  4️⃣ Products are released
• High temperatures can cause enzyme denaturation.
• Match the environmental factor with its effect on enzyme function:

  Temperature ↔️ Denaturation at high levels

  pH ↔️ Optimal range for activity

  Salinity ↔️ Disrupts ionic bonds
• Optimal temperatures enable efficient enzyme activity.
• What happens to enzyme structure when pH deviates from its optimal range?

  Altered structure
• What is the effect of low temperatures on enzyme activity?

  Slows down activity
• At the optimal temperature, enzymes function at their peak efficiency
• At low temperatures, enzyme activity slows
• Acidic pH can cause enzyme denaturation
• Enzymes lower the activation energy required for a reaction to proceed.


  True
• Arrange the steps of enzyme function in the correct order:

  1️⃣ Enzymes lower activation energy

  2️⃣ Enzymes bind to specific substrates

  3️⃣ The active site interacts with the substrate

  4️⃣ The enzyme-substrate complex is formed
• Catalyzed reactions are faster than uncatalyzed reactions.


  True
• Environmental factors such as temperature, pH, and salinity can affect enzyme function
• What are the two main types of enzyme inhibitors?

  Competitive and non-competitive
• Each enzyme has an optimal pH at which it functions most efficiently.


  True
• What does the Michaelis-Menten model describe?

  Enzyme kinetics
• At high substrate concentrations, enzyme activity reaches its maximum velocity
• Non-competitive inhibitors bind to the active site of an enzyme.

  False
• What are the two main types of enzyme inhibitors?

  Competitive and non-competitive
• Non-competitive inhibitors can be overcome by increasing substrate concentration.

  False
• What are two examples of organic solvents that can inhibit enzyme activity?

  Acetone and ethanol
• Enzymes bind to specific substrates based on the shape of their active site.


  True
• What happens to enzyme activity at high temperatures?

  Denaturation occurs
• High salinity can disrupt ionic bonds in enzymes, reducing their activity.


  True
• Match the environmental factor with its effect on enzyme function:

  Temperature ↔️ Denaturation at high temperatures

  pH ↔️ Optimal range for enzyme activity

  Salinity ↔️ Disrupts ionic bonds
• Order the effects of temperature on enzyme activity from optimal to low temperature:

  1️⃣ Optimal temperature results in peak enzyme efficiency

  2️⃣ High temperature causes denaturation and reduced activity

  3️⃣ Low temperature slows down enzyme activity
• Enzymes have an optimal temperature at which they function most efficiently.
• What happens to enzyme activity at low temperatures?

  Slows down
• At the optimal temperature, enzymes function at their peak efficiency.
• What happens to enzymes when pH deviates from their optimal range?

  Denaturation
• What is the maximum velocity (V_max) of an enzyme?

  Saturation with substrate
• Can competitive inhibition be overcome by increasing substrate concentration?

  Yes
• What is the mechanism of heavy metals on enzymes?

  Bind to active site, denaturing the enzyme
• Environmental factors like extreme pH can disrupt the active site of enzymes, leading to denaturation.
• What are the key environmental factors that affect enzyme function?

  Temperature, pH, salinity