enzymes

• What type of molecules are enzymes?

  Protein molecules
• Why are enzymes described as specific?

  Their active site only fits specific substrates
• What is the function of amylase?

  Breaks down starch into glucose
• Where is amylase produced?

  Salivary glands, pancreas, small intestine
• What is the function of proteases?

  To break down proteins into amino acids
• Where are proteases produced?

  Stomach, pancreas, and small intestine
• What is the function of lipases?

  To break down lipids into fatty acids and glycerol
• Where are lipases produced?

  Pancreas and small intestine
• What are two factors that affect enzyme activity rate?

  Temperature and pH
• What does denatured mean in the context of enzymes?

  The shape of the active site is changed
• How does temperature affect enzyme activity?

  Reaction rate increases until optimum, then decreases
• How does pH affect enzyme activity?

  Each enzyme has an optimum pH
• Why do different digestive enzymes have different optimum pHs?

  Different digestive system parts have different pHs
• Why is the lock and key model used to describe enzyme activity?

  The active site only fits specific substrates
• What happens to an enzyme at temperatures above its optimum?

  Its activity decreases and eventually stops
• Why is the pH in the stomach strongly acidic while in the small intestine it is close to neutral?

  Different enzymes function best at different pHs