Enzymes

• Enzymes lower the activation energy required for a reaction to occur, increasing the rate of the reaction.
• Digestive enzymes break down food molecules into smaller particles that can be absorbed by the body.
• Metabolic enzymes catalyze the chemical reactions of metabolism.
• The active site is where substrates bind to an enzyme.
• Substrate binding causes a change in shape or conformation of the enzyme, known as induced fit.
• Pepsin is an acidic proteinase produced in the stomach that breaks down proteins at low pH levels.
• Hydrolysis is the process of breaking a compound into two or more simpler compounds using water as a reactant.
• Lipase breaks down fats into fatty acids and glycerol.
• Proteases are enzymes involved in protein digestion.
• Induced fit allows the enzyme to interact with the substrate more effectively.
• Carbohydrases are enzymes involved in carbohydrate digestion.
• Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up biochemical reactions without being consumed themselves.
• Proteases break down proteins into amino acids.
• Cellulose is broken down by cellulase.
• Amylase breaks down starch into sugars.
• The active site of an enzyme is where the reaction takes place.
• Carbohydrases break down carbohydrates.
• The lock-and-key model suggests that enzymes have fixed structures that match perfectly with those of their substrates.
• Active Site: The part of an enzyme where the substrate binds.
• Induced Fit Theory: A theory which states that when a substrate binds to an enzyme, it causes slight changes in the shape of the active site so that the substrate fits more snugly.
• Metabolism: All chemical reactions in an organism.
• Anabolic: Smaller molecules building up to form larger molecules

  e.g. photosynthesis, protein synthesis, DNA replication
• Anabolic: Smaller molecules building up to form larger molecules

  e.g. photosynthesis, protein synthesis, DNA replication
• Function: Enzymes are biological catalysts.
• Enzymes are made of Proteins
• Substrate: The substance with which an enzyme reacts.
• Product: The substance the enzyme forms.
• Active site: The part of an enzyme that combines with the substrate.
• Enzyme substrate complex: Enzyme + substrate together.
• Enzyme specificity: Only acts on one substrate.
• Amylase: Acts in mouth and small intestine. pH 7
• Pepsin: Acts in stomach. pH 2.
• If an enzyme goes outside of its optimum pH/temp activity then starts to become

  denatured and activity is reduced or doesn’t occur at all.
• A denatured enzyme has lost its shape and can no longer carry out its function.
• Bio-processing: The use of enzyme controlled reactions to produce a product

  e.g. medicines, yogurts, beers
• Bioreactor: A vessel/container in which living cells or their products are used to make a

  product.
• Imobilized: Enzymes trapped in an inert substance or gel
• Advantages of immobilised enzymes:

  1. They can be reused therefore less wasteful and cost effective.
  2. The product can be purified easily due to enzymes easily recovered.
• an example of an immobilised enzyme is 'glucose isomerase', which makes fructose. (soft drink sweetener)
• Catabolic enzymes: Amylase, lipase and pepsin