Enzymes Flashcards

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1
Q

What are enzymes?

A

Proteins that help speed up chemical reactions in our bodies.
(and reduce the amount of energy required)

They are involved only in a specific reaction.

Biological catalysts

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2
Q

What is the molecule on which the enzyme acts on called?

A

The substrate.

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3
Q

What is the most common suffix for an enzyme’s name?

A

-ase.

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4
Q

What is an active site?

A

The location on the enzyme where the substrate binds.

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5
Q

What is it called when an enzyme and a substrate are combined?

A

An enzyme-substrate complex.

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6
Q

What two functions can enzymes serve?

A
  • Speeding up the breakdown of a substrate into multiple products (Catabolism)
  • Speed up the buildup of a substrates into one product (Anabolism)
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7
Q

Which factors does an enzyme require to work to its full capacity?

A
  • Optimal temperature
  • Optimal pH
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8
Q

What can a high temperature or an altered pH do to an enzyme?

A

Permanently change the active site, rendering the enzyme dysfunctional.

(Denature the enzyme)

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9
Q

How can low temperature affect an enzyme?

A

By slowing collisions between enzymes and substrates

(physics in human biology?????)

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10
Q

Define a denatured enzyme.

A

When an enzyme is permanently changed, rendering it dysfunctional.

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11
Q

How can an enzyme become denatured?

A
  • Extreme temperatures
  • A change in pH
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12
Q

What can a low temperature do to an enzyme?

A

Render the enzyme inactive, meaning it won’t work to its full capacity.

(This state can be changed back.)

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13
Q

Why are enzymes essential for life?

A
  • Metabolic reactions are too slow to maintain life without them.
  • Enzymes reduce the activation energy (energy overhead) of a reaction.
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14
Q

Which two models can be used to describe enzyme action?

A
  • Lock-and-key model
  • Induced-fit model
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15
Q

What does the lock-and-key model state?

A

The shape of an enzyme’s (the key) active site will be complementary to the shape of the substrate (the lock).

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16
Q

What does the induced-fit model state?

A

When the enzyme-substrate complex is formed, weak bonds are formed that cause the shape of the enzyme to change.

(This creates complementary from non-complementary enzymes/substrates)

17
Q

List 4 factors that affect enzyme activity.

A
  • pH level
  • Temperature
  • Enzyme concentration
  • Substrate concentration
18
Q

Which pH level do most enzymes work effectively at?

A

Neutral (pH 7)

19
Q

Are enzymes reusable?

A

Yes.

20
Q

Can an enzyme have more than one active site?

A

Yes.

21
Q

How does temperature change enzyme activity?

A
  • Higher - Increase in activity
  • Lower - Decrease in activity
22
Q

What happens to an enzyme if its pH level is suboptimal?

A

Its ability to combine with its substrate will be affected.

23
Q

What will increasing the amount of substrate compared to enzymes do?

A

Increase the amount of products made until all enzyme molecules are working at capacity.

24
Q

What will increasing the amount of enzymes compared to substrates do?

A

Increase the rate of reaction, unless no more enzymes are added.

25
Q

What is an inhibitor?

A

A substance that slows down or prevents enzyme function.

26
Q

Most of the time, what inhibits enzyme activity?

A

The product of enzyme reaction.

27
Q

What do inhibitors bind to, and what do they do?

A

Enzymes, and they change their active site shape, preventing them from binding to substrates.

28
Q

What is a non-competitive inhibitor?

A

A molecule that binds to an enzyme at a site other than the active site, and changes the shape of the enzyme.

(competitive refers to competing with the substrate.)

29
Q

What is a competitive inhibitor?

A

A substance that binds to enzyme’s active site, and changes its shape.

(competitive refers to competing with the substrate.)

30
Q

** digestive enzymes | slide 25

A