C1.1 Enzymes Flashcards
What is a catalyst?
A substance that speeds up a chemical reaction by lowering activation energy
What is metabolism?
Complex network of interdependent and interacting chemical reactions occurring in living organisms
What is specificity?
The ability of an enzyme to recognize and bind to a particular substrate
What is an anabolic reaction?
ASSEMBLE- enzymes bring the substrate molecules together to build larger molecules
What is a catabolic reaction?
Enzyme affects the bonds in the substrates so they are easier to break to smaller molecules
Give 3 examples of anabolic reactions
- Protein synthesis
- DNA synthesis
- Photosynthesis
Give 3 examples of catabolic reactions
- Digestion
- Cellular respiration
- Glycogen breakdown
What are the 2 enzyme mechanisms?
- Lock and key model (assumes active site is rigid)
- Induced fit model (assumes active site is flexible)
What is denaturation?
The process in which a protein loses its 3 dimensional structure and can no longer function
Denaturation is caused by…
pH, temperature and presence of heavy metals
What can be used to measure metabolic rate?
Calorimetry
Describe a competitive inhibitor
- similar shape to substrate
- bind to active site
- if substrate concentration increases it will reduce the effect of the inhibitor
Describe the non-competitive inhibitor
- binds to enzyme (not active site)
- substrate no longer fits
- rate of reaction unaffected
What is end of product inhibition
Avoids excess production and build up of intermediate chemicals in a pathway
What are some other factors affecting enzyme activity?
- Substrate concentration
- Enzyme concentration
