Enzymes Flashcards
Enzyme
A biological catalyst
Amino acids
The building blocks of proteins
Metabolism
The sum of all chemical reactions in an organism
Catabolic reaction
Breaking down of larger molecules into smaller molecules
Eg respiration, digestion
Catabolic enzymes
Amylase
Lipase
Anabolic reaction
Building up large molecules from smaller molecules
Eg photosynthesis, protein synthesis
Substrate
The substance that an enzyme acts on
Eg starch
Product
The substance that an enzyme forms
Eg maltose
Active site
Part of an enzyme that combines with the substrate
Responsible for enzyme specificity
Enzyme specificity
Can only act on one certain substrate
Optimum conditions
The ideal conditions for an enzyme to work best
Denatured
When an enzyme has fully lost its shape and cannot function anymore
Bioprocessing
The use of enzyme controlled reactions to produce a product
Eg cheese,beer,antibiotics,vaccines
Bioreactor
Vessel in which living cells are used to make a product
Immobilised enzymes
Enzymes that are attached to or trapped in an inactive insoluble material
Proteins
Produced in ribosomes by protein synthesis
Long chain of amino acids joined together by polypeptide bond
Protein functions
Determined by how it folds
No foldings: fibrous eg keratin
Folding: globular eg albumin,enzymes
Anabolic enzyme
DNA polymerase
Forms and repairs DNA
Enzymes are:
Made of protein biomolecules
Substrate specific
Reversible reactions
Active site theory
How an enzyme reacts with its specific substrate
Describe the active site theory
The enzyme changes shape to fit the substrate and an enzyme-substrate complex is formed
The products are released,the enzyme returns to its original shape
The enzyme can be reused.
Factors affecting enzyme activity
Temp
pH
Enzyme concentration
Substrate concentration
How temperature affects enzyme activity
Low- ice forms, enzymes dont work
High- above optimum, active site loses shape and becomes denatured
Human optimum- 37°
Plant optimum-20-30°
How does pH affect enzyme activity
Optimum - 7
Exception of pepsin - 2