Enzymes Flashcards
Enzyme
biological catalysts which interact with substrate molecules to facilitate chemical reactions. Usually globular proteins
Substrate
the substance which is used up in a chemical reaction, leading to the formation of a product. It fits into the active site of an enzyme.
why are enzymes necessary to life?
remove the need for extreme conditions to make reactions happen quickly, thus enabling many chemical processes to happen by biologically speeding up reactions.
Anabolic reactions
- reactions that construct molecules from smaller units.
- require energy from the hydrolysis of ATP
- required for growth
Catabolic reactions
- reactions that break down molecules into smaller units.
- release energy.
Metabolism
- the chemical reactions which take place in the cell of an organism (anabolic and catabolic)
- multistep process, each catalysed by a diff enzyme
Vmax
maximum initial velocity or rate of an enzyme catalysed reaction
ie. when all active sites are occupied with substrate molecules and every enzyme is working as fast as it can (under a particular set of conditions)
intracellular enzyme
an enzyme which is found within a cell
extracellular enzyme
an enzyme which is found outside of a cell
activation energy
energy required for a reaction to start
the amount of energy req. for the bonds to start to break (or form)
describe the lock and key hypothesis
- substrate fits into active site due to their complementary shapes
- enzyme binds to substrate and an enzyme-substrate complex is formed.
- substrate reacts and an enzyme-product complex is formed
- products are released leaving enzyme unchanged
what’s the difference between enzymes and chemical catalysts?
- enzymes are specific, chem. catalysts are not.
- chemical catalysts are used up and give unwanted products
what does catalase break down?
H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) into water and oxygen
describe the induced fit hypothesis
- active site changes shape as the enzyme substrate complex forms
- tertiary structure of the active site is changed by weak initial reactions between active site and substrate, which strengthens binding
- this weakens bonds in the substrate, lowering Ea for reaction
what affects the rate of an enzyme controlled reaction?
- temperature
- pH
- substrate concentration
- enzyme concentration
Suggest how the R groups of amino acids are involved in catalysing reactions
The substrate is held by the enzyme so closely that the R groups of the amino acids interact and form temporary bonds, putting strain on the substrate and helping the reaction to progress
What kind of proteins are enzymes?
globular
Why are globular proteins soluble?
hydrophobic R groups are folded into the middle of the protein and hydrophilic R groups are on the outside, so the protein dissolves in water