Enzymes and proteins Flashcards
What are enzymes and what are special about their shapes?
Enzymes are all proteins and all proteins are made up of long chain of amino acids.
These chains are folded into particular shapes that enables other molecules to fit into the active site of the enzyme.
What are proteins act as?
Biological catalysts.
Structural components of tissues such as muscles.
Structural components of hormones and antibodies.
How is enzyme useful as a biological catalyst?
They speed up the useful chemical reactions in the body.
What is a catalyst?
An catalyst is a substance which increases the rate of reaction, without being changed or used up in the reaction.
Where are digestive enzymes produced?
Specialised cells in glands and in the lining of the gut.
Where is the enzyme amylase produced?
Salivary glands, the pancreas and the small intestine.
What does amylase do?
Catalyses the breakdown of starch into sugar in the mouth and small intestine.
Where are protease enzymes produced?
The stomach, the pancreas and the small intestine.
What do protease enzymes do?
They catalyse the breakdown of proteins into amino acids in the stomach and the small intestine.
Where are lipase enzymes produced?
The pancreas and small intestine.
What do lipase enzymes do?
Catalyse the breakdown of lipids (fats and oils) into fatty acids and glycerol in the small intestine.
