1.4.1 - Enzymes

Question 1

define a catalyst

Answer 1

substance that speeds up a reaction without changing the substances produced

Question 2

define an enzyme

Answer 2

biological catalysts that control the rate of reaction

Question 3

why do enzymes show great specificity?

Answer 3

due to their primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary structures
will only catalyse a specific reaction or group of reactions

they are produced during protein synthesis

Question 4

why does temperature and pH affect the shape of an enzyme?

Answer 4

they affect the intramolecular bonds within the protein that are responsible for the shape of the molecule

Question 5

define an anabolic reaction

Answer 5

the reaction that builds up (synthesises) new molecules in a cell

Question 6

define a catabolic reaction

Answer 6

reactions that break down substances within a cell

Question 7

define metabolism

Answer 7

the sum of the anabolic and catabolic reactions within a cell

Question 8

what is a metabolic chain (/metabolic pathway)?

Answer 8

a series of linked reactions in the metabolism of a cell

enzymes can also slow reactions down or completely stop them

Question 9

what are intracellular enzymes?

Answer 9

enzymes that catalyse reactions within the cell

- e.g DNA polymerase and DNA ligase

Question 10

what are extracellular enzymes?

Answer 10

enzymes that catalyse reactions outside the cell in which they were made
- e.g digestive enzymes and lysozyme

Question 11

how are enzymes named?

Answer 11

• relatively short recommended name (usually the name of the substrate it works on with ‘-ase’ at the end with an addition of what it does - e.g creatine kinase)
• a longer systematic name (describes the type of reaction being catalysed)
• and a classification number

Question 12

why are enzymes named?

Answer 12

to give you useful information about the role of the enzyme in the cell or the body