3. Enzymes Flashcards
activation energy
energy a substrate molecule must have before it can undergo a chemical change
active site
the region of an enzyme molecule where substrate molecule binds
anabolism
the building up of complex molecules from smaller ones
biotechnology
the industrial and commercial applications of biology, particularly of microbiology, enzymology and genetics
buffer
a solution which minimises change in pH when acid or alkali are added
catabolism
the breaking down of complex molecules in the biochemistry of cells
catalyst
a substance that alters the rate of a chemical reaction, but remains unchanged at the end
denaturation
a structural change in a protein that results in a loss (usually permanent) of its biological properties
enzyme
mainly proteins (a very few are RNA) that function as biological catalysts
free energy
when molecules are broken, the part of the potential chemical energy in the molecules that is available to do useful work
hydrolysis
a reaction in which hydrogen and hydroxyl ions from water are added to a large molecule causing it to split into smaller molecules
inhibitor (enzyme)
a substances which blocks or slows enzyme action; a competitive inhibitor binds to the active site of the enzyme; a non-competitive inhibitor binds to another part of the enzyme
intracellular enzyme
an enzyme operating inside the cell
‘in vitro’
biological processes occurring in cell extracts (literally ‘in glass’)
irreversible inhibitor
an inhibitor that bind tightly and permanently to an enzyme, destroying its catalytic properties
