Enzymes Flashcards
Enzyme structure
Complex
made up of a mixture of components
Suffix of -ase
prefix is based on substrate it acts on
The Substrate
- what the enzyme works on
- enzymes are specific to the substrate
- specifity is determined by active site
4 Major categories of macromolecules
carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids
What category does enzymes fall under?
Most enzymes belong to the class of proteins (but some RNA molecules that act as enzymes)
Naming enzymes
Take the name of the substrate the enzyme worls on and add the suffix - ase
lactose - lactase
Function of enzymes
- Speed up chemical reaction
- catalyst to over 4000 biochemical reactions
- mobilize proteins
What are enzymes?
Enzymes are reusable molecules found in living things
Chemical reactions
- need initial input of energy to start reaction (molecules are in transition state)
- enzymes lower activation energy
Reaction types
Either degradation or synthesis takes place.
Induced Fit Hypothesis
Some proteins can change their shape (conformation)
When a substrate comes into contact with an enzyme, it induces a change in the enzymes conformation.
Things that effect enzyme reaction
- Temperature
- pH
- substrate concentrate
- inhibitors
Effect of temperature on enzymes
- optimum temperature at about 30 degrees
- Fully denatured at 70 degrees
- few bacteria have enzymes that can withstand 100 degrees
- cold water fish will die at 30 degrees because their enzymes denature
Lock and Key Model
The substrate that matches with the enzyme, will fit into the enzymes active site, causing it to do a certain function
Active Site
The shape and chemical environment inside the active site permits a chemical reaction to proceed more easily.
