Enzymes Flashcards
A protein that acts as a catalyst and so lowers the activation energy needed for a reaction.
Enzyme
Energy required to bring about a reaction.
Activation energy
Active Site
A group of amino acids that makes up the region of an enzyme into which the substrate fits in order to catalyse a reaction.
A substance that is acted on or used by another substance or process. Fits into the active site of an enzyme.
Substrate
The intermediate formed when a substrate molecule interacts with the active site of an enzyme.
Enzyme-substrate complex
Describes the relationship between the active site of an enzyme and the substrate molecule – the way in which they fit together.
Complimentary
Describes how enzymes catalyse a certain chemical reaction.
Specific
Induced fit
A mechanism of interaction between an enzyme and a substrate. As the substrate fits into the active site the active site of the enzyme changes shape in order to allow an enzyme-substrate complex to be formed.
Ananalogy for how enzymes work-only the correctly sized key (substrate) fits into the key hole (active site) of the lock (enzyme)
Lock and Key
Rate of reaction
The speed of a chemical reaction - can be worked out by looking at the decrease in concentration of a reactant over time or increase in concentration of a product over time.
The energy of motion, observable as the movement of an object, particle or set of particles
Kinetic Energy
A figure expressing the acidity or alkalinity of a solution on a logarithmic scale on which 7 is neutral, lower values are more acidic and higher values are more alkaline. Equivalent to -log10[H+].
pH
A substance which reduces the activity of an enzyme.
Inhibitor
A form of inhibitor which binds to the active site of the enzyme preventing the binding of substrate.
Competitive inhibitor
Non-competitive inhibitor
A form of inhibitor which does not bind at the active site of the enzyme which prevents the binding of substrate.
