Biological Molecules

Question 1

2.10: What are enzymes?

Answer 1

• Protein molecule that acts as a biological catalyst by speeding up the rate of specific reactions without being used up or affected
• Biological catalysts in metabolic reactions (digestion) as they allow substrates to bind onto their active site, breaking them down into products

Question 2

2.10: What is the reaction for the enzyme AMYLASE / MALTASE?

Answer 2

Starch → Glucose

Question 3

2.10: What is the reaction for the enzyme PROTEASE?

Answer 3

Protein → Amino Acids

Question 4

2.10: What is the reaction for the enzyme LIPASE?

Answer 4

Lipids → Fatty Acids & Glycerol

Question 5

2.11: Why does the rate of enzyme activity increase due to temperature increase?

Answer 5

• This is because as temperature increases, enzymes and substrates will gain kinetic energy, vibrating and moving faster
• This allows more frequent successful enzyme-substrate collisions to occur, increasing the rate in which substrates are broken down, hence increasing enzyme activity

Question 6

2.13: What happens when the pH is too high or too low in an enzyme?

Answer 6

The bonds that hold the amino acid chain together to make up the protein can be destroyed. This changes the shape of the active site so the substrate no longer fits into it, reducing enzyme activity.