[1.7-9] enzymes Flashcards

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1
Q

what is the difference between an anabolic and catabolic reaction?

A
  • anabolic - a reaction which builds things up
  • catabolic - a reaction which breaks things down
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2
Q

what are enzymes?

A
  • a globular protein which acts as a biological catalyst
  • they lower the activation energy required for a reaction, thereby increasing the rate of reaction, whilst remaining unchanged in the process
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3
Q

why are enzymes important?

A
  • nearly all metabolic reactions in organisms are catalysed by enzymes
  • without them, life could not exist
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4
Q

why are enzymes specific?

A
  • each enzyme has a specific amino acid sequence
  • which has a particular tertiary structure giving an active site with a unique structure
  • shape of active site is complementary to one substrate
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5
Q

how do enzymes lower the activation energy in anabolic reactions?

(if building larger molecules)

A
  • the active site holds monomers closer together and reduces repulsion between them
  • this allows them to join/bind together more easily
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6
Q

how do enzymes lower the activation energy in catabolic reactions?

(if breaking larger molecules)

A
  • enzymes bind to substrate in an induced fit, so shape of active site changes
  • bond is strained so a lower Ea is needed to break the bonds
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7
Q

what is the lock and key model? (old)

A
  • enzymes have a rigid and set active site shape complementary to the substrate
  • substrate = key, enzyme
  • substrate will only fit into a rigid active site
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8
Q

what is the induced fit model? (new)

A
  • initially, the enzyme active site and substrate are not complementary in shape
  • shape of active site changes as substrate binds / as ESC forms
  • shape change stresses the bonds in the substrate causing a reaction
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9
Q

what 5 factors affect enzymes?

A
  1. temperature
  2. pH
  3. substrate concentration
  4. enzyme concentration
  5. non / competitive inhibitors
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10
Q

how do low temperatures affect enzymes?

A
  • lower kinetic energy
  • fewer enzyme-substrate collisions
  • fewer enzyme-substrate complexes formed
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11
Q

how do high temperatures affect enzymes?

A
  • bonds holding tertiary structure are broken
  • active site loses shape and is no longer complementary to substrate
  • fewer enzyme-substrate complexes are formed
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12
Q

how does a high or low pH affect enzymes?

A
  • OH- or H+ ions disrupt the ionic and hydrogen bonds holding the tertiary structure together (electrostatic forces of attraction are affected)
  • enzyme’s active site loses shape / denatures and is not completely complementary to the substrate
  • fewer / no enzyme-substrate complexes formed
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13
Q

how does substrate concentration affect the rate of enzyme activity?

(on a graph)

A
  1. start: low substrate conc. not many ES complexes so low rate of reaction
  2. substrate conc increases, more ES complexes formed, faster rate
  3. active sites begin to become fully occupied with substrates. rate therefore slows
  4. active site full with substrate
    - maximum rate at which ES complexes can form
    - enzyme is the limiting factor
    - adding more substrate has no effect
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14
Q

how does enzyme concentration affect the rate of enzyme activity?

(on a graph)

A

1. enzyme is the limiting factor

  • as the conc of enzymes increases, the rate of reaction increases
  • this is because more ES complexes form

2. enzyme is the limiting factor

  • as the conc of enzymes increases further, the rate of reaction begins to slow down
  • this is because we are beginning to not have enough substrate to fill all active sites

3. substrate is the limiting factor

  • as conc of enzymes is increased further, the rate of reaction remains constant
  • this is because there is not enough substrate to fill active sites
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15
Q

how do competitive inhibitors affect enzymes?

A
  • inhibitor is similar shape to substrate
  • inhibitor blocks active site by binding to it
  • substrate can’t bind to active site so fewer ES complexes are formed
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16
Q

how do non-competitive inhibitors affect enzymes?

A
  • inhibitor fits at site on enzyme other than the active site
  • active site is distorted
  • substrate will no longer fit
  • enzyme loses its function
17
Q

what is the effect of adding more substrate with non / competitive inhibitors?

A
  • competitive: if more substrate is added it outcompetes the competitive inhibitor
  • non-competitive: adding more substrate has no effect
18
Q

how could you measure the rate of an enzyme controlled reaction?

A
  • measure how fast product of reaction is being made
  • measure how fast the substrate is broken down

temperature, pH or concentration could be changed in an experiment

19
Q

what is end product inhibition?

A
  • product acts as inhibitor for the first enzyme
  • this prevents getting too much of a certain substance
20
Q

how do you calculate pH?

A

pH = -log₁₀ [H+]
- eg. hydrogen ion = 1.6 × 10⁻⁴ means pH = 3.8 (use calculator)