Chapter 3 - Enzymes Flashcards
What do enzymes called proteins control
Chemical reactions in cells
What kind of catalysts are enzymes and what do they do
They are biological catalysts and speed up a reaction
What is an active site
The area where other molecules can fit
What is a substrate
Things that enzymes act upon
What can enzymes do
- Build large molecules from many smaller ones
- change one molecule into another one
- break down large molecules into smaller ones
In what conditions do reactions take place faster and why
In warmer conditions because the molecules move around more quickly and so collide with each other more often and with more energy
What does the word denatured mean
When the temperature gets too hot or the pH is too acidic or alkaline and the enzyme stops working because the active site changes shape
What produces the enzyme amylase and what is the function of the enzyme
Amylase which is a carbohydrase is produced by salivary glands, the pancreas and the small intestine. Amylase catalyses the the digestion of starch into sugars in the mouth and small intestine
What produces the enzyme protease and what is the function of the enzyme
Protease is produced by the stomach, the pancreas and and the small intestine. Protease catalyses the breakdown of proteins into amino acids in the stomach and small intestine.
What produces the enzyme lipase and what is the function of the enzyme
Lipase is produced by the pancreas and small intestine. Lipase catalyses the breakdown of lipids (fats and oils) to fatty acids and glycerol
What are protein acids made of
Long chains of amino acids
What acid does the glands in the stomach wall produce
Hydrochloric acid
Why does the liver produce bile
To neutralise the stomach acids and make the conditions in the small intestine slightly alkaline
What do biological detergents contain and why are they useful
The contain proteases and lipases that digest food stains. They work lower temperature than ordinary washing powders. This saves energy and money spent on electricity
Give a use of proteases in industry
It is used to pre-digest proteins in some baby foods
What is isomerase used for and why is it useful
Isomerase is used to convert glucose syrup into fructose syrup. Fructose is much sweeter so less is needed in foods. As a result the foods are not so fattening.
What are carbohydrases used for
Convert starch into sugar syrup for use in foods
What are the advantages of enzymes
- Some enzymes are used in medicine to diagnose, control or even cure disease
- In industry, costs of equipment and energy can be reduced
- It doesn’t get used up
What are the disadvantages of enzymes
- enzymes may enter waterways via sewage system
- industrial enzymes can be costly to produce
- enzymes denature at high temperatures needed to kill pathogens in washing.
