B2.14 Enzyme Action

Question 1

What are the factors affecting enzyme action?

Answer 1

Temperature, substrate concentration and pH

Question 2

What is the name of the molecules that enzymes work on?

Answer 2

Substrate molecules highly specific for the type of enzyme

Question 3

Describe the action of enzymes in the lock and key hypothesis?

Answer 3

The idea that substrate molecules have different shapes which fit in the active site of specific enzymes. This helps make bonds between them and form a product molecule. The product molecule is a slightly different shape to the substrate molecule so it no longer fits tightly in the active site and is released

Question 4

Describe how enzymes could be denatured due to changes in the shape of the active site.

Answer 4

When the ph or the temperature change, it also changes the shape of the enzymes active site so the substrate does not fit as well. Too much change will break the bonds within the enzyme. This can change the shape so much that it denatures the enzymes and destroys the active site.