Enzymes Flashcards
What are enzymes
Biological catalysts
Rules of catalysis
1) catalyst cannot catalyse a thermodynamically unfavourable reaction
2) cannot change course of a reaction
3) cannot change the equilibrium of a reaction, only the rate at which eq is reached
4)directing influence
5) catalyst is recoverable
Catalysis specificity
Occurs at the active site
Tertiary protein structure that determines the 3D structure
Denaturation
Disruption of non covalent bonds by extremes of heat or ph leads to loss of enzyme catalytic activity
Mechanism of action
Enzyme lowers activation energy by binding to substrate
For a reaction to occur, there must be a release of energy (exothermic)
Must first pass through a higher energy state = transition state
Activation energy is needed
Effects of enzyme binding to substrates active site
1) enzyme position substrates in its active site and line up molecules precisely for reaction so binds can be broken or made more easily = orbital steering
2) some enzymes combine with substrate to form an unstable covalent intermediate in a “transition state” that more readily undergoes reactions to form products
3) increased effective concentration of reactants
4) enzymes may act as proton donors or proton acceptors
5) induce strain or distortion in the bond= conformational change
Active site of acetylcholinesterase
Anionic subsite: binds positive quaternary amine
Esterstic subsite: acetylcholine hydrolysed to choline and acetate
Mechanism of action of acetylcholinesterase
Anionic site attracts positively charged amine group
Specially activated serine is positioned next to and in line with the carbonyl of the ester group of the substrate
Covalent transition state intermediate is formed
Choline is released
Bond is hydrolysed by water to release acetate
Two ways of measuring enzyme activity
Disappearance of a substrate
Appearance of a product
Factors affecting enzyme activity: time
Velocity= appearance of product with time
Slowing down of a reaction is because of conc of substrate decreases or the conc of product increase
Factors affecting enzyme activity: enzyme concentration
More enzyme present= faster reaction
Can be product inhibition
Factors affecting enzyme activity: temperature
High temp= denature
Initial velocity increase with temp
Factors affecting enzyme activity: ph
Ph has an effect in the active site where ionisation may affect shape and any ionic binding of substrate
Factors affecting enzyme activity: presence/ absence of cofactors
Organic coenzymes or prosthetic groups
Inorganic ions or activators
Cofactors take part in chemical reaction catalysed by enzyme
Factors affecting enzyme activity: substrate concentration
V max= all available enzyme is saturated with substrate
Km
Dissociation constant for a given enzyme
Concentration of substrate which allows the catalytic reaction to proceed
1/Km is a measure of the affinity between enzyme and substrate
What binds to the allosteric site
Effector= can either stimulate or inhibit enzyme activity
What is a isozyme
Enzyme which has multiple molecular forms in the same organism catalysing the same reaction