B5 Enzymes Flashcards
What are enzymes?
Protein molecules that catalyse specific reaction in organisms
What does catalyse mean?
To speed up a reaction
Why are enzymes described as specific ?
Because each enzyme only catalyses a specific reaction because the active site only fits together with certain substrates (like a lock and a key)
Describe the function of amylase
To break down starch into simple sugars
Where is amylase produced?
Salivary glands
Pancreas
Small intestine
Describe the function of proteases
To break proteins into amino acids
Where r proteases produced?
Stomach
Pancreas
Small intestine
Describe the function of lipase
To break down lipids into fatty acids and glycerol
Where are lipases produced?
Pancreas
Small intestine
What are two factors that affect the rate of activity of an enzyme?
Temperature and pH
What does denatured mean?
When the shape of an enzyme’s active site is changed by high temperature or an extreme pH so it can no longer bind with the substrate
Describe the effect of temp on enzyme activity
As the temp increases the rate of reaction increases until it reaches the optimum for enzyme activity however if the temp increases anymore then enzyme activity decreases and eventually stops
Describe the effect of pH on enzyme activity
Different enzymes have different optimum pHs at which their activity is greatest however at a pH much lower or higher than this enzyme activity decreases and stops
Y do different digestive enzymes have different optimum pHs ?
This is because different parts of the digestive system have very different pHs. For example, the stomach is strongly acidic but the pH of the small intestine is close to neutral
