Lecture 14: Energy Transformations & ATP

Question 1

What are Enzymes?

Answer 1

They are catalysts
- Speed up chemical reactions
- Will not make a reaction that wouldnt occur, occur
- Have active sites where substrates bind
- Do not alter the equilibrium point of free energy
- They are not consumed by the reaction
- Lower activation energy

Question 2

Different kinds of enzymes and their functions

Answer 2

Oxidoreductases: transfer electrons between molecules

Transferases: transfer groups of atoms (functional groups) between molecules

Hydrolases: add water to covalent bonds to break down molecules

Lyases: catalyze the breaking of various chemical bonds by means other then hydrolysis and oxidation

Isomerases: move functional groups from one place to another within the same molecule

Ligases: join to molecules together

Question 3

Examples of Reversible Inhibiton

Answer 3

Competetive Inhibition: a competetive inhibitor binds to the active site, preventing substrate binding

Uncompetetive Inhibition: an uncompetetive inhibitor binds to the enzyme-substrate complex, preventing release of products

Noncompetetitive Inhibition: a noncompetetive inhibitor binds at a site other than the active site, changing enzyme structure so that normal substrate binding cannot occur