enzymes Flashcards
catalyst
a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction and is not changed by the reaction
enzymes
biological catalysts
involved in metabolic reactions
break down chemicals, or opposite
ends in -ase
what would happen without enzymes
reactions would be very slow
could not sustain life
amylase
an enzyme that catalyses the breakdown of starch to maltose
protease
an enzyme that catalyses the breakdown of protein to amino acids
enzymes in plants
germinating seeds they digest the food stores for the growing seeds
as the seeds soak up water- amylase is activated
maltose is soluble so transported to the embryo
maltose can be broken down into
glucose molecules linked together to make cellulose
catalase
an enzyme that catalyses the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen
hydrogen peroxide is produced by a lot of reaction in the body: toxic, must be broken down immediately
make water + oxygen
carbohydrases
enzyme that breaks down carbs
lipases
enzyme that breaks down lipids (fats and oils)
sucrase
enzyme that breaks down sucrose into glucose and fructose
maltase
enzyme that breaks down maltose to glucose
substrate
substance that causes an enzyme to react
active site
the part of the enzyme molecule to which the substrate temporarily binds
enzyme-substrate complex
when substrate is binded with the enzyme
factors affecting enzymes
temp
pH
optimun
best condition
denaturation
when the temp or pH is too low or high–> damaged, cannot catalyse the reaction
temp affecting enzyme activity
low temp.- little kinetic energy = substrate not colliding with enzyme alot
temp increase- frequency of collisions increases
too high temp- shape of active site changes and not longer complementary
optimun temperature in humans for enzymes if 37.2 celcius
