Molecular Biology 2.5 Flashcards
What is active site ?
The active site refers to the specific region of an enzyme where a substrate binds and catalysis takes place or where chemical reaction occurs.
Factors affecting enzyme catalysed reaction
1) Temperature
2) PH
3) Substrate concentration
Effect of PH
1) Amino acids have areas that are + or - charged
2) The - or + areas of substrate must match the opposite charge on the active site
3) When a solution becomes too acidic, it has extra H+ ions which can bond with the - charges of the enzyme or substrate.same things happen when the solution becomes too basic with OH- ions.
3) In extreme scenarios, it becomes inactive.
4) Enzymes can also lose its shape and denature.
Effect of Substrate concentration
1) If there is constant amount of enzyme
2) The concentration of substrate increases, the rate of reaction will increase as well.
3) More reactants= more molecular collisions.
4) however, if every enzyme is working at its max rate then adding more substrate will not increase the rate.
What are Immobilized enzymes ?
Enzymes trapped in small pores of a substance(like calcium alginate) are called immobilized enzymes.
Advantages of Immobilizing enzymes
1) Enzymes can be reused, making the process cheaper.
2) Binding the enzymes to a surface also makes them more stable and less likely to denature (lose their shape)
3) there will be no enzyme left in the product at the end, so purification is not necessary
Making lactose-free milk through immobilizing
1) Lactose, one of the most imp sugars found in milk.
2) Lactase digest lactose into 2 monosacchrides: glucose and galactose.
3) Monosacchrides are easy to digest in bloodstream.
4) Lactose intolerant people can eat milk and milk products that have been treated with lactase before consumption.
5) On industrial scale, lactase enzyme molecules are trapped in the small pores of alignate beads
6) Then, milk and milk products are exposed to these beads for enough time for pre-digestion to occur..
