Enzymes Flashcards
What is the function of an enzyme?
Enzymes act as biological catalysts that lower the activation energy of reactions.
Define activation energy.
Activation energy is the initial amount of energy required to start a reaction.
What are enzymes primarily composed of?
Enzymes are composed of globular proteins.
What is the active site of an enzyme?
The active site is the functional region of an enzyme where substrate binding occurs.
Describe the induced-fit model.
The induced-fit model suggests that the enzyme changes shape to become complementary to the substrate upon interaction.
How does the induced-fit model affect activation energy?
It lowers the activation energy by putting strain on the substrate’s bonds, making them easier to break.
Fill in the blank: Enzymes lower the _______ of a reaction.
activation energy
What happens to the enzyme’s active site when the substrate binds?
The active site changes shape to become complementary to the substrate.
What is formed when an enzyme binds to a substrate?
An enzyme-substrate complex.
