Chp 8: Enzymes as Catalysts Flashcards
- Define catalytic power
The rate of an enzyme-catalyzed reaction divided by the rate of the uncatalyzed reaction
- What is meant by substrate specificity of an enzyme?
The ability of an enzyme to select one or a few substrates from a group of similar substrates.
Most catalysts, unlike enzymes, are not specific. They react with many substrates and help to produce many products.
- What is the active site?
A cleft, an indentation, or crevice on the enzyme where a substrate binds, a transition state complex is formed, and products are released.
The enzyme usually changes conformation due to the interactions between the amino acid side chain groups of the enzyme and the functional groups of the substrate, so that the outside solution can’t take part of the reaction.
- Explain the Induced Fit Theory Model for Substrate Binding.
- The enzyme changes its conformation when it binds to a substrate.
- This “induced” conformation is due to the interactions between the amino acid side chains of the active site and the functional groups of the substrate.
- The substrate also changes conformation in response to the enzyme.
- What was the major shortcoming of the Lock-and-Key Model for Substrate Binding?
The major shortcoming of the lock-and-key model was that it lacked the idea of a change in conformation – instead it originally thought that a rigid substrate would slide into a rigid active site of the enzyme and a reaction would take place
- Explain catalytic power in terms of the transition state and activation energy.
An enzyme’s catalytic power increases the rate of a reaction by lowering the activation energy required to reach the transition state
- What is a transition state?
State during an enzyme reaction when an intermediate exists that resembles both substrate and product while containing the most free energy.
The enzyme stabilizes the transition state by lowering its activation energy
- What is activation energy?
Energy required to achieve the transition state
- What is a coenzyme?
Any organic cofactor that binds to the enzyme and is necessary for the reaction (usually derived from vitamins)
- What is a cofactor?
Any non-protein molecule that binds to the enzyme and is necessary for the reaction
- What is a prosthetic group?
Any cofactor (metal ion or coenzyme) that binds tightly to an enzyme, many by covalent bonding.
These are difficult to remove without denaturing the enzyme.
- What does an activation-transfer coenzyme do?
Forms a covalent bond with a portion of the substrate that contains a lot of free energy, thereby activating the substrate for transfer. This way the transfer of the group is exergonic.
- Thiamine pyrophosphate always attacks which group on substrate? Which bond is broken?
The alpha-keto group on alpha-keto carboxylic acids is the group that is always attacked by the coenzyme thiamine pyrophosphate
The C-C bond between the ketone carbon and the carbonyl carbon is broken. CO2 is released as a result.
- Which vitamin is thiamine pyrophosphate synthesized from?
Vitamin thiamine (B1)
- What is Coenzyme A’s functional group on the coenzyme?
Sulfhydryl group
- What kind of bond does Coenzyme A form with the activated group?
Thioester bond with the carboxylic acids
- What types of groups on Coenzyme A are activated?
The acyl group is activated.
This is what the “A” in CoA stands for
- Which vitamin is Coenzyme A synthesized from?
Vitamin panthothenic acid (or pantothenate, B5)
- Define catalytic power.
The rate of an enzyme-catalyzed reaction divided by the rate of the uncatalyzed reaction
- Is biotin a prosthetic group?
Yes, because there is a covalent bond between the carbon of the cofactor and the nitrogen of a lysine residue in the carboxylase enzyme
- Which kind of enzyme uses the coenzyme biotin and what does it do?
Carboxylase enzymes.
These covalently bind to CO2 and transfer them onto other substrates.
- Which vitamin is biotin synthesized from?
Biotin is both the vitamin AND the coenzyme
- What type of group does the cofactor pyroxidal phosphate react with?
The amino group of an amino acid
- Which vitamin is pyroxidal phosphate synthesized from?
Vitamin B6
- Concerning NAD+, what is the other reaction product besides pyruvate and acetaldehyde?
H+ is made along with acetaldehyde and pyruvate.
Whenever NADH is made, an H+ is also produced.
- What does NAD stand for?
Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide
- What is the function of the ADP portion of NAD+?
The ADP portion of the NAD+ molecule binds tightly to enzymes such as lactate/alcohol dehydrogenases, causing conformational changes to the enzyme-substrate complex.
- When lactate dehydrogenase or alcohol dehydrogenase oxidize their substrates, what is transferred to NAD+?
A hydride ion