Enzyme Action Key Terms and Processes

Question 1

What are enzymes?

Answer 1

Enzymes are biological catalysts, they are globular proteins that interact with substrate molecules to form enzyme-substrate complexes, causing them to react at a much faster rate without the need for harsh environmental conditions.

Question 2

How does a successful collision take place?

Answer 2

Molecules need to collide in the correct orientation, with sufficient energy to react (higher than activation energy)

Question 3

What is the Lock and Key Hypothesis?

Answer 3

When a complimentary substrate binds to the active site of an enzyme, an enzyme-substrate complex is formed, the substrate is held in such a way that the right atom-groups are able to react, the R-groups within the active site of the enzyme will also interact with the substrate. The enzyme remains unchanged.

Question 4

What is the Induced fit hypothesis?

Answer 4

The initial reaction between the enzyme and substrate is very weak, but these weak interactions rapidly induce alterations to the enzyme’s tertiary structure that strengthen binding, putting strain on the substrate molecule, this can weaken a particular bond on the substrate, therefore lowering the activation energy for the reaction