enzymes Flashcards
What are enzymes made of?
Proteins, which are long chains of amino acids.
What causes a protein to fold into its shape?
Interactions between the side chains of amino acids.
Why is an enzyme’s shape important?
It determines the specific type of reaction the enzyme can catalyze.
What determines the unique shape of an enzyme?
The sequence of amino acids in the protein.
What happens when an enzyme’s shape changes?
It may lose its ability to function properly.
What is a substrate?
The specific substance an enzyme works on.
What must match for an enzyme to function?
The shapes of the enzyme and substrate.
What is the active site of an enzyme?
The site where the reaction occurs and the substrate binds.
How many types of substrates can an enzyme’s active site fit?
Only one specific type.
What do chemical reactions do?
Change one set of chemicals into another by breaking and forming bonds.
What happens when all active sites on enzymes are full?
Adding more substrate will make no difference.
What is denaturation?
The process where an enzyme changes shape, losing its ability to function.
How does temperature affect enzymes?
A small increase speeds up reactions, but high temperatures cause denaturation.
What happens to enzymes in extreme pH conditions?
They denature and lose their ability to function.
What is the effect of increasing enzyme concentration?
The reaction rate increases.
What is the effect of increasing substrate concentration?
The reaction rate increases until all active sites are filled.
What are enzymes named after?
Their substrate.
Which enzyme breaks down protein?
Protease.
Which enzyme breaks down lactose?
Lactase.
Which enzyme breaks down maltose?
Maltase.
Which enzyme breaks down lipids?
Lipase.
What suffix do most enzymes end with?
“-ase.
What is dehydration synthesis compared to?
A wedding, where two molecules join to become one.
What is hydrolysis compared to?
A divorce, where one molecule splits into two.
