B2 - Proteins and Enzymes Flashcards
Describe two ways enzymes can be used in the home.
PROTEASES can be used in biological washing powders to break down the proteins in stains. They work at relatively low temperatures. LIPASES can be used in biological detergents to break down the fats in stains.
Where do the enzymes for biological washing powders come from?
They are harvested from BACTERIA and MICROBES.
Describe 3 ways which enzymes can be used in the food industry.
PROTEASE can be used in BABY FOODS. Babies are not good at digesting protein at an early age so the protease PREDIGESTS the proteins, turning them into amino acids which are easy to take in and essential for the babies growth and development. CARBOHYDRASE can be used as an alternative way to obtain glucose for use in SUGAR SYRUPS. Instead of getting it from sugar cane, carbohydrase can turn long starch chains from maize, potatoes and sugarbeet into glucose. ISOMERASE can be used for SLIMMING FOODS. Traditionally, glucose has been used as a sweetener but it is very fattening. Isomerase turns glucose into FRUCTOSE which is far sweeter than glucose and so can be used in much smaller quantities.
What are the two advantages of using enzymes in industry?
They work well at high temperatures and pressures. Enzyme processes are cheap to run once enzymes have been purchased.
What are the five disadvantages of using enzymes in industry?
Enzymes are expensive to buy.
Enzymes can easily become denatured and damaged if the temperature or pH changes.
Microbes the enzymes come from need food and oxygen which may be costly to provide.
Enzymes dissolve in water so they may be difficult to separate from the product.
Enzymes can cause allergies such as dermatitis from washing powders.
What is an enzyme?
An enzyme is a biological catalyst.
How do enzymes work?
They speed up the rate of reaction in living things but are not used up in the reaction itself.
What is an enzyme made of?
An enzyme is made up of amino acids and proteins which are folded into a 3D shape which is essential for the enzyme’s job.
Where are enzymes made?
Enzymes are manufactured in the ribosomes - the part of the cell responsible for making proteins.
What is this model called?
The lock and key model.
How do enzymes speed up chemical reactions?
They lower the activation energy (the minimum amount of energy required for the particles to react)
There are two types of enzyme. What are they?
CATABOLIC enzymes which break down the molecules in a substrate into smaller ones. BREAKERS
ANABOLIC enzymes which build large molecules from smaller ones. BUILDERS
(There are also enzymes which turn one molecule into another)
What is a protein?
A protein is a chain of amino acids folded into a specific shape.
Describe four proteins.
Structural parts of tissue such as muscle.
Hormones.
Antibodies.
Catalysts.
What happens to enzymes at high temperatures?
They become denatured.
