Lec 3: Enzymes (Pt. 1) Flashcards
Many (most) cellular (and many extracellular) reactions in living systems are catalyzed by
enzymes
You can envision the cell as simply a ‘container’ in which millions of enzyme catalyzed reactions allow for…
…maintenance of function and reproduction (i.e., life)
enzymes are…
because they…
…catalysts
…speed up chemical reactions without being consumed
generally, enzymes are…
…although, …
…proteins
…ribozymes are enzymes with RNA-based functional subunits
Enzymes function to
lower the “energy of activation” (Ea) for a specific chemical reaction
Exergonic means: (4)
- ) The reaction is energetically (thermodynamically) favorable
- ) *G (Change in Gibbs free energy) is negative
- ) G products – G reactants < 0
- ) Reactants are at a higher “energy state” than the products
However, an exergonic reaction will not readily proceed without either: (2)
Thus, the reactants are said to be…
- ) A catalyst (in this case, any ATPase)
- ) Heating the reaction
….metastable
“metastable” reactants =
thus, they…
= they are “thermodynamically” unstable, but they do not achieve the activation energy needed to “react”.
…appear to be stable.
In order to proceed, some of the reactants must…
…achieve a higher energy state to reach the transition state level (Greactants + EA).
EA =
= Energy of activation
For an endergonic reaction
(*G is positive)
Thermal Activation =
this will allow…
is this feasible inside a cell?
= Adding heat to the reaction
…some reactants to reach that heightened energy state
? = no
In contrast, catalysts…
…reduce the EA enough so that many of the reactants have sufficient energy to proceed to product formation without the need to add energy (heat for example) to the system.
The overall rate of the reaction will depend on
the proportion of reactants with energy at or above the EA
Important properties of catalysts:
- ) Increase reaction rates by lowering the EA
- ) Facilitate reactions by forming transient complexes with substrates (reactants)
- Therefore, they are not consumed during the reaction process** - ) Only change the rate at which a reaction will come to equilibrium
Important aspects of enzymes: (5)
- ) active site
- ) enzymes are highly specific
- ) sensitivity to temperature
- ) sensitive to pH
- ) sensitive to other factors
active site =
= Domain (or domains) directly involved with formation of the transient Enzyme-Substrate (E-S) complex
active sites are not necessarily…
…one contiguous stretch of amino acids in the enzyme
active sites could involve…
…several amino acids from different regions (due to protein folding)
active sites are usually
rather small
Active Site shape
3D is shape or structure
What are involved in the transient formation of the E-S complex?
Multiple weak (non-covalent) attractions or bonds
Active sites generally involve
clefts or crevices in the overall protein
Active sites are highly…
which means…
…Specific
…only specific substrates can fit and properly align in the active site
Active Sites typically involve:
the amino acids
- Cysteine, histidine, serine, aspartate, glutamate, arginine, and lysine
- All are either charged or polar
Active sites may involve…
cofactors to assist in substrate binding and catalysis
cofactors =
= Non-protein components required for catalytic function