7.2 Flashcards
Define enzyme.
Enzymes are catalysts that speed up reactions.
Define substrate.
A substrate is something that an enzyme speeds up the reaction of.
Define active site.
The area on an enzyme where a substrate reacts.
Define activation energy.
The amount of energy needed for a reaction to happen.
What are the properties of enzymes?
The first is that an enzyme is shaped to only react with one kind of substrate. The second is that enzymes are not consumed in reactions. The third is that they are made of protein. The fourth is that they are affected by cellular conditions and can denature.
What are are the relationships between reaction rate and substrate concentration, enzyme concentration, temperature, and pH?
When there are more substrates, they will attach to the enzymes more and faster, causing the enzyme reaction rate to increase quickly then much more slowly. When there are more enzymes, substrates attach to them more often, which also causes the enzyme reaction rate to increase rapidly then much more slowly. When the temperature is increased, it will make the enzyme reaction rate go up quickly then fall back down, as the optimal temperature is reached then passed, causing the proteins to denature. When pH is increased, enzyme reaction rate rises and falls for different enzymes, as the right pH is reached for those enzymes, then quickly passed again.
How could an enzyme’s activity be maximized or minimized?
Changing the substrates to ones it catalyzes reactions for, adding activators, changing the pH to the best pH for that enzyme, and doing the same with the temperature would maximize an enzyme’s activity. Doing the opposite of those things, by making all the substrates ones it does not catalyze the reactions for, adding inhibitors, and changing the pH and temperature so the enzyme denatures would minimize enzyme activity.
What is the difference between activators and inhibitors of enzymes?
Activators allow enzymes to react with substrates better, inhibitors prevent them from reacting with substrates by going into the activator’s place and changing the enzyme so it cannot react with a substrate, or by blocking the active site.
