Enzymes Flashcards
What is an enzyme
A highly specific protein that functions as a biological catalyst in order to speed up biochemical reactions
One of the fastest enzymes known is
Carbonic anhydrase
What is enzyme specificity due to?
Precise interactions of substrate with enzyme (precision due to 3D structure of enzyme)
What are the six classes of enzymes
- oxidoreductases
- Transferases
- Hydrolases
- Lyases
- Isomerases
- Ligases
Oxidoreductases
Catalyze oxidation-reduction reactions
- transfer electrons between molecules
ex. lactate dehydrogenase
*these reactions require the coenzyme NAD
Transferases
Catalyze the transfer of functional groups between molecules
-ex. alanine transaminase
Hydrolyases
Catalyze hydrolysis by cleaving molecules by the addition of water
ex. trypsin and pyrophosphatase
Lyases
Catalyze the addition of atoms or functional groups to a double bond OR removes them to form a double bond
ex. fumarase
Isomerases
Catalyze the movement of functional groups within a molecule
~generally the simplest enzymatic reactions as only 1 substrate and 1 product
“iso” = same, so within the SAME molecule
ex. alanine racemase
Ligases
Catalyze bond formation or joining two molecules at the expense of ATP
ex. DNA ligase or glutamine synthetase
What is an enzyme without its co-factor?
An apoenzyme
What is the name of a complete catalytically active enzyme?
A holoenzyme
Co-factors can be:
- small organic molecules derived from vitamins called coenzymes or
- metals
What are tightly bound coenzymes called?
Prosthetic (helper) groups
Enzymes may speed up a chemical reaction but properties of the reaction (for example if it occurs at all) depends on _____
Free energy differences
What is free energy (G)
Measure of useful energy
-the ability to do work
What is the free energy change of a reaction? delta G
Informs us as to whether a reaction can take place spontaneously
A reaction can take place spontaneously is delta G is…
Negative (exergonic)
A reaction cannot take place spontaneously if delta G is…
Positive (endergonic)
When is delta G zero?
At equilibrium there is no net change in concentration of products and reactants, so delta G is 0
T/F delta G provides information about the rate of a chemical reaction
False
Can enzymes alter the equilibrium of a chemical reaction
No
X‡ is?
- an unstable arrangement of atoms – chemical bonds are in the process of being broken or formed
- called a Transition State – it has higher ∆G than does S or P