Enzyme Flashcards
What are the starting materials in a chemical reaction called?
Substrate/Reactants
Substrates are the initial components that undergo transformation during a reaction.
What are the molecules produced after a chemical reaction referred to as?
Products
Products are the end results of the chemical transformation.
What are enzymes?
Proteins that act as catalysts, speeding up chemical reactions without being consumed
Enzymes lower the activation energy required for reactions.
Define catalyst.
Any substance that alters the rate of a reaction without being used up
Catalysts can be enzymes or other chemical substances.
What is the active site of an enzyme?
The specific region on an enzyme where the substrate binds
The active site is crucial for the enzyme’s function.
What is an inhibitor?
A molecule that binds to an enzyme, blocking the substrate from attaching and stopping the reaction
Example: Hydroquinone in this lab.
What are cofactors?
Molecules or ions required for enzyme activity
Example: Copper for Catechol Oxidase.
What does it mean when an enzyme is denatured?
When an enzyme loses its shape due to extreme pH or temperature, rendering it non-functional
Denaturation affects the enzyme’s ability to catalyze reactions.
How does an enzyme’s shape relate to its function?
An enzyme’s shape dictates its function; if the shape changes, the enzyme becomes inactive
This is critical for enzyme specificity and activity.
What does substrate specificity mean?
Each enzyme works on a specific molecule, meaning it has a specific substrate
This is essential for the precision of biochemical reactions.
Are enzymes reusable?
Yes, enzymes are reusable and can continue working on the substrate as long as it’s available
This property makes enzymes efficient in biological systems.
What is the substrate in the lab experiment discussed?
Catechol
Catechol is the molecule the enzyme acts upon.
What enzyme is also referred to as ‘potato juice’?
Catechol Oxidase
This enzyme catalyzes the oxidation of catechol.
What product indicates enzyme activity in the lab?
Benzoquinone
Benzoquinone is a brown-colored compound produced during the reaction.
What is the function of Benzoquinone?
Antimicrobial compound that helps plants heal and prevent infections
It plays a role in plant defense mechanisms.
What is the inhibitor used in the lab?
Hydroquinone
Hydroquinone blocks the active site, preventing enzyme function.
What cofactor is necessary for Catechol Oxidase to function?
Copper
Copper ions are essential for the catalytic activity of the enzyme.
What does PTU (Phenylthiourea) do?
Binds with copper, preventing enzyme function
This illustrates the importance of cofactors in enzyme activity.
What is the optimal temperature for most enzymes?
37°C
This temperature corresponds to human body temperature, where many enzymes function best.
What happens to enzymes at extreme temperatures?
They lose their shape and become inactive
This process is known as denaturation.
What is the optimal pH range for most enzymes?
pH 6-8
Enzymes are sensitive to pH changes, affecting their activity.
What occurs at pH levels outside the optimal range?
Enzymes can denature
This renders them non-functional and disrupts metabolic processes.
What effect does increasing enzyme concentration have?
Increases the reaction rate if enough substrate is available
This is because more active sites become available for substrate binding.
What happens to the reaction rate as substrate concentration increases?
It increases until all enzyme active sites are occupied
After that point, adding more substrate does not increase the reaction rate.
