enzymes Flashcards
What is the Vmax?
Maximum initial velocity or rate of an enzyme-catalysed reaction
What kind of proteins are enzymes?
Globular
What is an enzyme?
A protein that acts as a catalyst in biological reactions
What is the relationship between the shape of the active site and the shape of the substrate?
They have complementary shapes
Give an example of an intracellular enzyme
Catalase
Give an example of an extracellular enzyme
Amylase
Define metabolic reactions
The reactions occurring inside the body at any given time
Where are enzymes produced?
On the ribosomes of a cell
How do enzymes speed up the rate of reaction?
They reduce the activation energy of a reaction
What are the two models for enzyme action?
The lock and key
and
The induced fit
Lock and key hypothesis
Shape of active site caused by sequence of amino acids (specific tertiary structure - 3D)
Induced fit hypothesis
Explains how activation energy is reduced
Active site is not perfectly complementary but when substrate moves into active site, interferes with the bonds holding active site together
Induces changes in 3’ structure to strengthen binding and weaken bonds in substrate
Active site alters to give perfect fit. Changed shape of active site —> bonds in substrate easier to make or break (reduces activation energy)
What does the lock and key model of enzyme action suggest about the active site?
The active site is ridgid
What does the induced fit model suggest about the active site?
The active site has a degree of flexibility
Outline how an enzyme causes a reaction to occur
- the substrate and active site collide, forming an enzyme-substrate complex
- the active site puts pressure on the bonds of the substrate
- this causes them to break, forming an enzyme-product complex
- the products are released and the enzyme reused
How do enzymes reduce the activation energy of a reaction?
- They put pressure on the bonds in a substrate
- They bring atom groups close enough to react
Define metabolic pathway
A series of enzyme reactions whereby the product becomes the substrate of the next
What are anabolic reactions?
Reactions that build molecules
What are catabolic reactions?
Reactions that break bonds/break up molecules
How do R-groups of the enzyme help to break apart substrates?
The R-groups interact with the substrate, forming temporary bonds with the substrate which puts pressure on the bonds in the substrate bonds
Outline how starch is broken down in the body
- starch polymers are partially broken down into maltose by amylase
- amylase is released into the mouth via the salivary glands
- amylase is released into the small intestine via the pancreas
- maltose is then broken down into glucose by maltase in the small intestine
Outline how protein is broken down in the body
- trypsin is produced by the pancreas
- trypsin breaks proteins into smaller peptides in the small intestine
-other proteases then break the small peptides into amino acids
What is the active site?
the area of an enzyme with a shape complementary to a specific substrate allowing the enzyme to bind to a substrate with specicifity
Why are enzymes important to life?
- life processes require chemical reactions
- the reactions need to happen quickly
- enzymes allow these reactions to occur quickly without high pressure/temperature
- allow organisms to get the nutrients needed to function i.e through digestion
What is the substrate of catalase?
Hydrogen peroxide
What are the products of the reaction of catalase?
2H2O and O2
What is the substrate of amylase
Starch
What are the products of the reaction of amylase?
Maltose
What is the substrate of trypsin?
Protein
What are the products of the reaction of trypsin?
polypeptides