Enzymes

• The active site of an enzyme has a specific shape that allows it to interact with only one type of molecule, called its substrate.
• Enzyme-substrate complex is formed when the substrate binds to an enzyme.
• Enzymes are protein macromolecules. Made from the repeating monomers amino acids
• Enzymes are not uniformly found within a cell. Usually in the nucleus, on the cell membrane or sub cellular structures.
• Enzymes are usually found in the bodily structures such as the stomach, small intestine or the pancreas
• Enzymes are able to break down substrates by stressing hydrogen bonds by pressuring electrons
• An allosteric site is on the opposite side of the active site and when substrates are inserted there, shape of the enzyme may change
• An enzyme lowers the activation energy by breaking bonds and bringing reactants together without spending energy
• pH affects the charge of the enzyme and therefore its ability to bind with substrates
• The factors that can affect an enzymes function are pH levels, temperature, salt concentration and inhibitors or activators.
• Inhibitors reduce the activity of an enzyme while activators increase the activity of an enzyme.
• Denaturation can be caused by change in pH levels, temperature, sat concentration or inhibitors
• Enzymes have specific shapes which allow them to fit perfectly into their substrate's structure
• An enzymes active site is where a substrate will bind
• Cofactors can be either metal ions (coenzymes) or organic compounds (cofactor)
• The two types of enzyme inhibitors are competitive (blocks active site) or noncompetitive (changes enzyme shape)