Enzymes Flashcards
What is an enzyme and what are they made of?
Biological catalysts that speed up reactions while remaining unchanged that are made of globular proteins
What happens when an enzyme becomes denatured?
The amino acids re-order and the active site changes shape
Activation energy
The energy needed to start a reaction
Enzymes affect on activation energy
Enzymes are catalysts so they lower activation energy required for chemical reactions, the speeds up the rate of reaction
What is induced fit?
When the shape of the enzyme molecule changes slightly to make the active site fit very closely round the substrate molecule
The active sites orient reactants, lowers the activation energy of the transition state and releases products with a low affinity for the active site
Compare lock and key theory and induced fit theory
Similarities: both involved in active site binding to substrate to create products
Differences: with induced fit the active site changes shape
What is an enzyme controlled reaction affected by?
Substrate concentration
Enzyme concentration
End product concentration
What happens to the reaction rate when substrate concentration is low?
Reaction rate is low because there are too few substrates for the enzymes to react with so not all the active sites are in use
What is the effect on the rate of reaction when enzyme concentration is low?
Reaction rate is low because substrates are un used
What is the effect on the rate of reaction when end product concentration is high?
Rate of reaction is low because end products inhibit
What does an enzyme need?
A suitable temperature
An appropriate pH
Enough substrate
What are enzyme cofactors?
Molecules that make the enzyme more efficient
They can be organic and in organic
