Enzymes Flashcards
What is an enzyme?
A biological catalyst that speeds up a reaction
What is a catalyst?
A catalyst:
lowers the activation energy
speeds up chemical reactions
remains unchanged
Explain substrate and products?
The substrate binds to the enzymes active site to produce a product
Explain lock and key theory?
Enzymes are specific - the substrate can only bind to the active site of an enzyme that has the same specific shape.
Explain induced fit model?
The active site of the enzymes will change shape to compliment the substrate.
What is a degradation reaction?
Enzymes breaking down substrates to smaller products.
What is a synthesis reaction?
Enzymes building up substrates to produce a larger product (joining together)
What is the equation for a synthesis reaction?
Glucose 1phosphate with phosphorylase = starch
What factors effect an enzymes activity?
- Temperature
- pH
- Concentration of Substrate
What is meant by ‘optimum temperature’
The temperature the enzyme works best at.
What happens when an enzyme becomes denatured?
The active-site changes and the substrate can no longer fit like a lock and key
What is the optimum pH for..
- pepsin
- amylase
- catalase
- 2.5
- 7
- 9
