Enzymes Flashcards
What is an enzyme?
A biological catalyst that speeds up chemical reactions
What is the structure of an enzyme?
Proteins
Have active site complimentary to substrate
What is a substrate?
A specific molecule that binds to an active site and are involved in a reaction
What is an active site?
A “docking zone” specific to a substrate
What is the function of an enzyme?
It lowers the activation energy of a reaction
-Products are formed after a substrate binds to the active site
-Two substrates could result in one product
-Most reactions are reversible
How can you tell if a molecule is an enzyme?
Their names often end in -ase
Does an enzyme get used up in a reaction?
No. Therefore written above the arrow
What factors affect the rate of reaction?
- Temp.
-Concentration
-pH
-Co-enzymes
-Co-factors
What is a metabolic pathway?
a series of enzyme-catalysed biochemical reactions in which the product of one reaction becomes the substrate of the next reaction
What is the lock and key model?
The active site is the opposite of the substrate shape, these don’t change
What is the induced fit model?
The active site and substrate aren’t the same shape but mould to fit together
What is a conformational change?
a change in the three-dimensional shape of macromolecules such as proteins
What is the activation energy?
the energy required to initiate a reaction
What is the collision theory?
in order for molecules to react with one another they need to ‘collide’ with enough kinetic energy to overcome the activation energy of the reaction
