ENZYMES

• What are enzymes primarily composed of?

  Proteins
• What role do enzymes play in cellular reactions?

  They act as catalysts
• How do enzymes affect activation energy?

  They lower activation energy
• What is the unique feature of each enzyme?

  Each has a unique 3-D shape
• What is the active site of an enzyme?

  A surface groove for substrate binding
• What is a substrate in enzymatic reactions?

  A specific chemical reactant
• What happens to the substrate when it binds to the enzyme's active site?

  It becomes unstable and reacts
• What is released from the active site after a reaction?

  The resulting product(s)
• How do enzymes fit with substrates?

  Like a key and lock
• What is the term for the enzyme-substrate interaction?

  Enzyme-substrate complex
• Are enzymes consumed in the reactions they catalyze?

  No, they are not consumed
• What happens to enzyme activity with more substrate?

  More product is produced
• Why are enzymes important for biological reactions?

  They speed up reactions to support life
• What suffix do most enzyme names end with?

  -ase
• What is the general format for writing an enzymatic reaction?

  • Enzyme: (enzyme name)
  • Reaction: substrate + substrate → product
• How can an enzyme be stopped?

  By denaturation from heat or pH changes
• What factors influence enzyme activity?

  Temperature, pH, cofactors, inhibitors
• What happens to enzymes at high temperatures?

  They denature and lose function
• What pH range do most enzymes work best in?

  pH 6 to 8
• What are cofactors and coenzymes?

  Substances needed for proper enzymatic activity
• What is the difference between cofactors and coenzymes?

  Cofactors are general; coenzymes are organic
• What are non-competitive inhibitors?

  Bind to another part of the enzyme
• What is competitive inhibition?

  Competes with substrate for active site
• How does Antabuse work as an enzyme inhibitor?

  It inhibits aldehyde oxidase enzyme
• What is the role of enzyme inhibitors in medicine?

  They can kill pathogens or correct imbalances
• What is catecholase and its function?

  Enzyme that browns cut fruits
• How does catecholase function in fruits?

  It catalyzes the reaction with oxygen
• What is bromelain and its source?

  Enzyme in pineapple that breaks down proteins
• What is the reaction catalyzed by bromelain?

  Collagen protein + H2O → amino acids
• What is enzyme kinetics?

  Study of reaction rates and influencing factors
• What does the Michaelis-Menten equation describe?

  Relationship between reaction rate and substrate concentration
• What does Vmax represent in enzyme kinetics?

  Maximum velocity at saturating substrate concentration
• What is the purpose of the Lineweaver-Burk plot?

  To determine Vmax and Km accurately
• What happens to Vmax and Km in competitive inhibition?

  Vmax unchanged, Km increased
• What happens to Vmax and Km in non-competitive inhibition?

  Vmax decreased, Km unchanged
• What happens to Vmax and Km in uncompetitive inhibition?

  Both Vmax and Km decreased
• What do the lines represent in a Lineweaver-Burk plot?

  Relationship between substrate concentration and reaction velocity
• What does the intersection of lines in a Lineweaver-Burk plot indicate?

  Values of Vmax and Km