Enzymes & Genetic Engineering Flashcards
What is a degradation reaction?
Degradation is when larger substrates are broken down into smaller products
What is a synthesis reaction?
A synthesis reaction is when smaller substrates are built up into larger products.
What is the definition of denatured?
It when an active site of an enzyme loses its shape
What are the key properties of an enzyme?
- Made of protein
- Biological catalysts/reusable
- The active site of an enzyme is specific to one type of substrate.
- Most active at optimum conditions (pH and temp)
- Denatured at high temps or certain pH levels.
At what temperature are enzymes at its optimum?
37°C
What is an antibody?
Made from white blood cells which protect the body from harmful microbes
When is an enzyme most active?
At its optimum conditions
What are the two variable enzymes are affected by?
Temperature and pH
What happened to enzyme activity at 0 degrees?
Denatured, no enzyme activity
What happens to enzyme activity at 15-18 degrees
Most enzymes denatured, increased activity.
What happens to enzyme activity at 37 degrees?
Activity at its optimum.
What happens to enzyme activity at 50-60 degrees
Denatures >50 degrees, will stop working and decreased enzyme activity (a lot) . No activity at 60 degrees.
What is haemoglobin?
Red pigment that carries oxygen around the body.
What are hormones?
Chemical messengers. Eg: testosterone, oestrogen, insulin
What are transport proteins?
Help movement of molecules. Eg: membrane proteins
What are structural proteins?
Provide shape and support. Eg: keratin, collagen, myosin
What are proteins made out of?
A chain of amino acids
What does the order of amino acids determine?
Structure and Function of a protein
What is the active site?
The part of the enzyme which binds and reacts to a substrate
Explain the specificity of enzymes.
The active site of each type of enzyme has a different shape from any other type of enzyme so it will only bind to one substrate
Give examples of degradation reactions.
Starch -> Maltose (with amylase)
Hydrogen Peroxide -> Water + oxygen (with catalase)
Give an example of a synthesis reaction.
Glucose-1-Phosphate -> Starch (with phosphorylase)
What is a substrate?
The substance at that will bind and react with the active site of the enzyme, at the beginning of the reaction.
What is genetic engineering?
Genetic engineering involves the removal of a gene from the chromosome of one organism and their insertion into a completely different organism.
Stage 1 of genetic engineering
Gene is located on the human chromosome
Stage 2 of genetic engineering
Gene is removed from the chromosome using enzymes
Stage 3 of genetic engineering
Plasmid removed from bacterial cell and cut open using enzymes.
Stage 4 of genetic engineering
Gene is inserted into plasmid and sealed using an enzyme.
Stage 5 of genetic engineering
Modified plasmid is inserted into bacterial cell to create a genetically modified organism.
Stage 6 of genetic engineering
Bacterial cells divide and produce product which can be extracted and purified in large.
What are the uses of genetic engineering?
Production of medicines. Eg: insulin and growth hormone
Genetically modified crops resistant to disease and longer shelf lives
What is the test for starch?
Iodine solution turns from red/brown to blue/black when starch is present.
What is the test for a reducing sugar?
Benedict’s solution turns from blue to red WHEN HEATED when a reducing sugar is present
