Enzymes

Cards (5)

  • What are Enzymes
    • Enzymes are biological catalysts 
    • They speed up chemical reactions in a living organism
  • Properties of Enzymes
    • Enzymes are large protein molecules 
    • They have a groove on their surface called the active site (This can also be defined as a space within the protein molecule) 
    • Enzymes work best at a specific temperature and pH called the optimum  
    • The active site is where the substrate attaches to
  • Lock and Key Theory and key terms
    • The Lock and Key Theory is a model used to explain how enzymes work 
    • The chemical that reacts is called the substrate (key) and it fits into the enzyme’s active site (lock)
  • What happens when the substrate cannot fit into the enzyme
    •  When a substrate does not fit into the active site , the enzyme cannot break down the substrate 
    • Enzymes are specific - The substrate must fit perfectly into the active site (The Lock and Key Theory)
  • Denaturing
    • High temperature and extremes of pH make enzymes change shape - This is called denaturing 
    • The enzyme cannot work once it has been denatured because the substrate cannot fit into the active site (The lock and key no longer fit together)