Enzymes 1 Flashcards
What role do enzymes play in cellular reactions?
Enzymes speed up reactions in cells by helping them occur more quickly
Why can’t our cells increase temperature to speed up reactions?
Our body temperature isn’t high enough to significantly speed up reactions
What is a catalyst?
A catalyst is something that speeds up reactions without being used up in the process
How do enzymes work according to the lock and key hypothesis?
Enzymes function like keys fitting into locks, where the enzyme’s shape matches that of the substrate, initiating the reaction.
What factors affect enzyme activity?
Enzyme activity is influenced by factors such as temperature, pH, and the concentrations of enzymes and substrates.
What is the enzyme’s specificity?
Enzymes are specific in their actions, meaning they work only on certain substances due to their unique shapes
What happens to an enzyme above its optimum temperature?
When the temperature exceeds the optimum, enzymes can change shape, rendering them less effective or even inactive.
Why is it incorrect to say enzymes are “killed” when denatured?
Enzymes are proteins, not living organisms, so they can’t be killed. Denaturation alters their structure, causing them to lose function.
How does pH affect enzyme activity?
pH levels can affect enzyme activity; deviations from the optimal pH can alter enzyme structure and reduce effectiveness.
What is the effect of increasing substrate concentration?
Increasing substrate concentration initially speeds up enzyme activity until all enzymes are engaged. After that, further increases don’t enhance activity.
What happens when enzyme concentration is increased?
Increasing enzyme concentration typically increases the rate of reaction, assuming there’s enough substrate for all enzymes to work on.
