Enzymes

• Enzyme

  Biological catalyst
• Metabolism

  The sum of all the chemical reactions taking place in an organism
• Substrate

  Specific molecule a specific enzyme acts upon
• Product

  Produced by enzyme action
• Active site

  Part of the enzyme that joins to the substrate

  
• Induced fit theory

  The active site of an enzyme will change its shape slightly to accommodate its specific substrate.
• Specificity

  Each enzyme can only join with one substrate
• Anabolic reactions

  Simple to Complex REQUIRE ENERGY

  
• Catabolic reactions

  Complex to Simple

  RELEASE ENERGY

  
• Denaturation

  Enzyme is irreversibly damaged and has lost its shape (can be caused by heat or pH

  
• Enzyme structure

  Globular protein
• Factors affecting enzyme action

  pH, temperature
• Optimum pH

  The pH at which the enzyme works best (e.g. pH 7)
• Pepsin

  Enzyme found in the stomach - breaks down proteins to polypeptides - works best at pH 2
• Catalase

  Enzyme found in potatoes and liver.

  Substrate: H2O2

  Product: water and oxygen (foam)
• Bioprocessing

  The use of enzyme-controlled reactions to make a product
• Immobilised enzymes

  Enzymes bound in an inert substance
• Benefits of immobilised enzymes

  -can be reused

  -cost effective

  -no need for separation