Enzymes Flashcards
What is metabolism?
Metabolism is the sum of all chemical reactions that take place within an organism.
What is the primary source for life on Earth?
The sun
What is cellular energy?
Cellular energy is the energy stored in the bonds of biomolecules such as carbohydrates or lipids
What are enzymes?
• Enzymes are (organic) catalysts made of protein.
What is a catalyst?
A catalyst is a substance that speeds up a reaction, without itself being used up in the
reaction.
Are all proteins enzymes?
All enzymes are proteins, not all proteins are enzymes
What are enzymes made up of?
Enzymes are made of chains of amino acids which are folded into a three-dimensional
shape.
Are enzymes reversible?
Yes
What is the substrate?
The substrate is the substance with which an enzyme reacts.
What is the product?
The product is the substance the enzyme forms.
What is the active site?
The part of an enzyme that combines with the substrate
What is a enzyme substrate complex?
Enzyme + substrate together
What is enzyme specificity?
Enzymes only act on one substrate
What does temperature do to an enzyme?
- low temp= low enzyme activity (not denatured)
- warm temp= High enzyme activity
- too hot temp= enzyme denatured
What does denatured mean?
An enzyme that has lost its shape and can no longer carry out its function
How does pH effect enzymes?
- Enzymes have a very specific pH range
- Anything outside it’s range will reduce enzyme activity
- Optimum activity for most enzymes is pH 7
What is optimum activity?
This is the most ideal conditions for an enzyme with its rate of activity at a maximum
What do catabolic enzymes form?
Breaks down larger compounds
Are enzymes used in respiration anabolic or catabolic?
Catabolic
What do anabolic enzymes do?
Form more complex compounds
What are immobilised enzymes?
Immobilised enzymes are enzymes that are attached or fixed, to each other, or to an inert material.
What is bio processing?
Bioprocessing is the use of enzyme controlled reactions to produce a product.
What is a bio reactor?
A bioreactor is a vessel or container in which living cells or their products are used to make a product.
What are physical methods of immobilising enzymes?
Adsorption
Enclosed by a membrane
Trapped by a gel (sodium alginate)
What are chemical methods of immobilising enzymes?
Bonded to a support
Bonded to each other
What are advantages of immobilising enzymes?
Reusable
Remain in the reaction vessel
Increases the stability of the enzyme
Cheaper
What are the enzyme experiments?
- Effect of pH on enzyme activity
- Effect of temperature in the rate of enzyme activity
- To prepare an enzyme immobilisation and examine its application
What are everyday examples of immobilised enzymes?
- Antibiotics
- Drugs
- Vaccines
- Food colourings and flavour
- Vitamins
- Amino acids
- Sugar Syrups
- Perfumes
What is the induced fit model?
Every enzyme has a matching substrate. Active site is induced to form enzyme substrate complex. Product is formed. Enzyme returns to original shape.
Are enzymes still specific after changing shape?
Yes
