Ch 4 Flashcards
Enzymes Definition
A class of proteins (exception – ribozymes are made of RNA) that serve as biological catalysts
What do enzymes do?
- Increase the rate of a reaction
- Are not changed by the reaction (so can be used again)
- Do not change the nature of the reaction – the reaction could have occurred without the enzyme, just much slower
- Lowers the activation energy of the reaction
What is activation energy?
the energy required for reactants to engage in a reaction (energy barrier we have to overcome)
• Most molecules lack the activation energy for a reaction.
- -> Adding heat increases the likelihood of are action occurring. This increases the rate of reactions, however, heat has some negative effects on cells.
- -> Catalysts help the reaction occur at lower temperatures.
Enzyme Activity
- structure dictates function
- characteristic 3D shape w/active sites
- reactants: substrates
- Measured by the rate at which substrate is converted to product
What are substrates?
fit into the active site like a key to a lock (“lock-and-key model”)
Induced-Fit Model
Sometimes the initial fit is not exact but will change as the substrate moves into the active site
Enzyme Nomenclature
- suffix: -ase
- first part of the name apply to the function
Phosphatases
remove phosphate groups
Synthetases/synthases
catalyze dehydration synthesis
Hydrolases
promote hydrolysis
Dehydrogenases
remove hydrogen atoms
Kinases
add phosphate groups
Isomerases
rearrange the atoms
Isoenzymes
-same name for enzymes w/same function in diff locations
molecules may be slightly different (in areas outside the active site) = isoenzyme
Enzyme activity influenced by….
- Temperature
- pH
- Cofactors and coenzymes
- Enzyme activation
- Substrate concentration
- Possible stimulatory or inhibitory effects of products on enzyme function