Enzymes Flashcards
What is a catalyst?
Speeds up chemical reaction and doesn’t get used up.
What is an enzyme?
A biological catalyst that controls the rate of chemical reactions and is made of large protein molecules. It speeds up the process of digestion.
What is the lock and key theory?
Each enzyme reacts with a particular substrate. Amino acid chains are folded to create an active site, allowing substrate to bind to enzyme perfectly.
What is an active site?
A unique shape to bind a specific substrate; it is the area of the enzyme where the substrate enters and the chemical reaction occurs.
What is the lock and key theory process?
Enzyme + reactant = enzyme-reactant complex = enzyme + products.
What are metabolic reactions?
They control metabolism.
What is metabolism?
The sum of all reactions taking place in a cell/body of an organism.
What types of metabolic reactions do enzymes catalyse?
Building up large molecules from lots of different ones, changing one molecule into another, and breaking down large molecules to smaller ones.
What factors affect enzyme action?
Temperature, pH level, enzyme concentration, substrate concentration, surface area, and pressure.
What is the optimum of enzymes?
The particular temperature or pH at which enzymes work best.
What are denatured enzymes?
Changes in temperature or pH that are beyond optimum cause irreversible changes to shape, altering the active site so it no longer functions.
What does denatured mean?
The breakdown of the molecular structure of a protein so it no longer functions.
What is the effect of pH on enzyme?
The active site is made by forces between different parts of the protein molecule. A change in pH alters these forces, changing the active site/shape, leading to denaturation.
What are the adaptations of the stomach for protease?
Protease works best in acidic conditions, and the stomach produces hydrochloric acid.
How does alkaline bile help enzymes from the pancreas/small intestine?
It neutralises acid and creates a high pH for these enzymes to work well at.
