Depth Study - Enzymes Flashcards
What is an enzyme?
Enzymes are biological catalysts, which are chemicals that speed up reactions in living organisms.
Enzymes are protein molecules, so are made up of amino acids in a 3D shape, which fits its substrate shape.
What is the active site?
The active site of an enzyme is the part of the enzyme where substrate molecules bind and a chemical reaction takes place.
Why is it important that enzymes catalyse chemical reactions?
Life would become so slow, it would no longer be able to be maintain basic functions such as respiration, digestion and photosynthesis.
Most enzymes are p……
Proteins
Is the enzyme altered or used up during the reaction? Explain.
No, not altered or consumed, unchanged so they can go on to catalyse more of the same reaction.
Explain the difference between intracellular and extracellulaar enzymes.
Intracellular function inside cells while extracellular function outside of cells.
Name two categories of enzymes in the human body
Digestive + metabollic
What is the function of the enzyme protease?
To split the proteins into their amino acids
Why is activation energy important in chemical reactions?
It is the energy needed to break the chemical bonds for the reaction to occur.
Briefly describe the use of bacterial enzymes in managing waste water systems?
Decomposition of toxic H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) into water and oxygen.
Describe the difference between the relationship between enzyme concentration and reaction rate. What would cause the rate to level off?
As enzyme concentration increases, reaction rate increases. However, maximum enzyme actvitiy is reached when all active sites are in use, leveling off the reaction rate.
What can affect enzyme activity?
Temperature, pH levels, substrate concentration.
Explain the trend shown (optimum temperature graph)
The rate of enzyme activity increases as the temperature increases because enzymes and substrate molecules have increasing kinetic energy and are more likey to collide. Above the optimum temperature (most activity) the shape of the enzymes changes and the substrate no longer fits the active site and enzyme activity therefore decreases. When all enzymes are denatured, the rate of activity is zero.
Explain the trend of a substrate concentration/enzyme activity graph. (the one where it increases then levels off)
As substrate concentration increases, there is an increase in the chance of collison with the enzyme, so activity increases. At a certain point, all active sites on enzymes are in use, maximum enzyme activity has been reached. Increasing substrate concentration will not increase activity past this point.
