1.4 Enzymes Flashcards
What are enzymes?
Biological catalysts unchanged during biochemical reactions.
What is a catalyst?
A chemical which speeds up the rate of reaction without being used up.
What substance is an enzyme made of?
protein.
What do enzymes react on?
Substrates.
What do enzymes produce?
Products.
Give an example of a degradation reaction…
starch (substrate) ———————–> maltose (product)
amylase (enzyme)
Give an example of a synthesis reaction…
glucose-1-phosphate (substrate) ———————-> starch (product)
phosphorylase(enzyme)
Can an enzyme act on more than one substrate?
No. Enzymes are specific to one substrate as each enzyme has a different active site which binds with only one type of substrate.
Describe the effect of temperature on enzyme activity…
Optimum normally body temperature. Can’t go to high or it will become denatured.
Describe the effect of pH on enzyme activity…
Different enzymes like different pHs but not all work in all pHs. Some prefer acidic and some alkaline.
What does denatured mean?
The shape of the active site changes and the enzyme can no longer bind with its substrate.
What is the optimum?
The conditions where an enzyme works the most effectively.
