Enzyme Action Flashcards
What does a catalyst do ?
A catalyst speeds up the rate of chemical reactions and remains unchanged at the end of the reaction.
Since catalysts remain unchanged at the end of the reaction, what does this mean?
They can be used again
What is a biological catalyst also known as?
enzymes
How do biological catalysts speed up the rate of the reaction?
By lowering the energy input for a reaction to proceed.
What is the substance that an enzyme acts on called?
substrate
During the reaction, what is formed?
enzyme-substrate complex
What is the substance left behind at the end of the reaction called?
product
What is the substrate complementary to?
active site
What determines the shape of the active site?
sequence of amino acids
What happens to the shape of the enzyme when the substrate becomes bound to the active site?
changes shape, giving close fit between enzyme and substrate.
What happens after the substrate becomes bound to the active site?
substrate is broken down into end products
What happens to the shape of the enzyme once the end products have been released?
returns back to original shape
What is the name given when complex molecules are broken down into simpler ones?
degradation (breakdown)
What is the name given when simple molecules are broken down into complex ones?
synthesis (build-up)
What enzyme is specific to the substrate hydrogen peroxide?
catalase
