Ch. 2: Enzymes Flashcards
what is the most important function of enzymes?
incredibly important as biological catalysts
do catalysts impact the thermodynamics of a biological reaction?
no, so deltaHrxn and equilibrium position do not change
func: catalyst
help the reaction proceed at a much faster rate
is the enzyme changed during the course of the reaction?
no, since it is a catalyst
what are the 7 key features of enzymes to remember?
- lower the activation energy
- increase the rate of the reaction
- do not alter the equilbrium constant
- are not changed or consumed in the reaction (they will appear in both the reactants and products)
- are pH and temperature sensitive, with optimal activity at specific pH ranges and temperatures
- do not affect the overall deltaG of the reaction
- are specific for a particular reaction or class of reactions
defn: substrates
the molecules upon which an enzyme acts
defn: enzyme specificity
a given enzyme will only catalyze a single reaction or class of reactions with these substrates (enzymes are picky!!)
mnemonic: what are the 6 categories of enzymes?
also what are these categories based on?
based on function or mechanism
LIL HOT
1. ligase
2. isomerase
3. lyase
4. hydrolase
5. oxidoreductase
6. transferase
if you don’t recognize an enzyme, what suffix should you keep in mind that most enzymes have?
-ase
func: oxidoreductase
catalyze oxidation-reduction reactions (the transfer of electrons between biological molecules)
what is often paired with oxidoreductases? what is the function of this? what are 2 examples of this?
often paired with a cofactor
which acts as an electron carrier
such as NAD+ or NADP+
defn: reductant, oxidant
REDUCTANT = the electron donor in reactions catalyzed by oxidoreductase
OXIDANT= the electron acceptor in reactions catalyzed by oxidoreductase
what are the 2 words in enzyme names that usually signal oxidoreductase?
- dehydrogenase
- reductase
what does oxidase usually signal in enzyme names?
oxygen is the final electron acceptor
func + naming: transferase
catalyze the movement of a functional group from one molecule to another
usually very straightforwardly named
what group of enzymes do kinases belong to?
transferases!
func: kinase
catalyze the transfer of a phosphate group, generally from ATP, to another molecule
func: hydrolase
catalyze the breaking of a compound into 2 molecules using the addition of water
naming + 4 examples: hydrolases
typically named only for their substrate
- phosphatase –> cleaves a phosphate group from another molecule
- peptidase –> breaks down proteins
- nuclease –> breaks down nucleic acids
- lipase –> breaks down lipids
func: lyase
catalyze the cleavage of a single molecule into two products
do lyases require water as a substrate?
do lyases act as oxidoreductases?
no and no!
can most enzymes catalyze the reverse of their specific reactions? what does this imply about lyases?
yes!
the synthesis of two molecules into a single molecule may also be catalyzed by a lyase
defn: synthases
what a lyase is referred to when it is fulfilling the function of synthesizing two molecules into a single molecule
func: isomerase
catalyze the rearrangement of bonds within a molecule
can isomerases be classified as other types of enzymes? if yes, what types of enzymes and why?
yes
oxidoreductases, transferases, or lyases –> depends on the mechanism of the enzyme
do isomerases catalyze reactions between stereoisomers or constitutional isomers?
both!
func: ligase
catalyze addition or synthesis reactions, generally between large similar molecules, and often require ATP
what is the difference in functionality between a ligase and a lyase (acting as a synthase)?
synthesis reactions with large molecules –> ligase
synthesis reactions with smaller molecules –> lyase
when are ligases most likely encountered on test day?
in nucleic acid synthesis and repair
what is the main role of thermodynamics?
relates the relative energy states of a reaction in terms of its products and reactants
defn: endergonic vs. exergonic reactions
endergonic reaction = one that requires energy input (delta G > 0)
exergonic reaction = one in which energy is given off (delta G < 0)
do enzymes affect equilibrium?
no, but they can affect how quickly a reaction GETS to equilibrium
what is the functional consequence of the fact that enzymes, as catalysts, are unchanged by the reaction?
far fewer copies of the enzyme are required relative to the overall amount of substrate because one enzyme can act on many, many molecules of substrate over time
how do catalysts exert their effect?
by lowering the activation energy of a reaction
they make it easier for the substrate to reach the transition state
why is the reversal of most reactions catalyzed by enzymes essentially nonexistent?
although they are TECHNICALLY reversible, that reversal may be extremely energetically unfavorable and thus nonexistent
analogy: how catalysts exert their effect
imagine having to walk to the other side of a tall hill
the only way to get there is to climb to the top of the hell and then walk down the other side, but wouldn’t it be easier if the top of the hill was cut off so one wouldn’t have to climb so high?
that is what catalysts do for substrates to achieve their transition state
enzyme mechanisms will vary depending on the reaction being catalyzed, but they tend to share some common features. what are these 3 common features?
- act to provide a favorable microenvironment in terms of charge or pH
- stabilize the transition state
- bring reactive groups nearer to one another in the active site
what is the key catalytic activity of an enzyme? what impact does this have?
key activity: the formation of the enzyme-substrate complex in the active site of an enzyme
impact: reduces the activation energy of the reaction
what does the interaction between a substrate and the active site of an enzyme account for in general terms?
the selectivity and some regulatory mechanisms of enzymes
defn: substrate
the molecule upon which an enzyme acts
defn: enzyme-substrate complex
the physical interaction between the enzyme and the substrate
defn: active site
the location within an enzyme where the substrate is held during the chemical reaction
what dictates the specificity of a specific enzyme for a molecule or group of molecules?
the active site assumes a defined spatial arrangement in the enzyme-substrate complex which dictates this
what 3 things within the active site stabilize its spatial arrangement, and thus contribute to the efficiency of the enzyme?
- hydrogen bonding
- ionic interactions
- transient covalent bonds
what are the 2 competing theories explain how enzymes and substrates interact? which is more scientifically accepted?
- lock and key theory
- induced fit model (more scientifically accepted)
explain (2): lock and key theory
- the enzyme’s active site (lock) is already in the appropriate conformation for the substrate (key) to bind
- the substrate can then easily fit into the active site, like a key into a lock or a hand into a glove
is alteration of the tertiary or quaternary structure necessary upon binding of the substrate in the lock and key theory?
no
explain via analogy (5): induced fit model
- imagine that the enzyme is a foam stress ball and the substrate is a frustrated MCAT student’s hand
- as the student’s hand squeezes the ball, both change conformation (the ball is no longer spherical, the hand is no longer flat) because they adjust to fit each other well
- in this case, the substrate (student) has induced a change in the shape of the enzyme (the stress ball) –> this requires energy, and is thus endergonic
- letting go of the stress ball is easy and doesn’t require extra energy, so this is exergonic
- just like enzymes, foam stress balls return to their original shape once their crushers (substrates) let go of them
explain molecularly (3): induced fit model
- starts with a substrate and an enzyme active site that don’t seem to fit together
- once the substrate is present and ready to interact with the active site, the molecules find that the induced form (transition state) is more comfortable for both of them
- thus, the shape of the active site becomes truly complementary only after the substrate begins binding to the enzyme
what happens in the induced fit model if a substrate of the wrong type is present? (2)
- a substrate of the wrong type will not cause the appropriate conformational shift in the enzyme
- thus, the active site will not be adequately exposed, the transition state is not preferred, and no reaction occurs
diagram comparison: lock and key theory vs. induced fit model
func: cofactors or coenzymes
required by many enzymes to be effective
char (3): cofactors or coenzymes
- nonprotein molecules
- small in size
- attached to their enzymes in a variety of ways, ranging from weak noncovalent interactions to strong, covalent ones
why are cofactors/coenzymes typically small in size?
so they can bind to the active site of the enzyme and participate in the catalysis of the reaction, usually by carrying charge through ionization, protonation, or deprotonation
why are cofactors/coenzymes usually kept at low concentrations in cells?
so they can be recruited only when needed
defn: apoenzymes vs. holoenzymes
APOenzymes = enzymes without their cofactors
HOLOenzymes = enzymes containing their cofactors
defn: prosthetic groups
tightly bound cofactors or coenzymes that are necessary for enzyme function
what are cofactors typically?
inorganic molecules or metal ions, often ingested as dietary materials