Proteins and Enzymes Flashcards
What are proteins?
Proteins are organic compounds. They are large, complex 3D molecules.
What are they composed of?
They are composed of atoms of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen.
What is the shape of the protein determined by?
The shape of the protein is determined by the long chain of amino acids.
Why is the shape of the protein important?
The shape of the protein is important because the job of the protein depends on its shape.
Name the 3 different types of protein shapes.
Fibrous, globular and conjugated.
State 5 functions of proteins.
Structural, enzymes, hormones, antibodies and transport of substances (active transport).
What are enzymes?
Enzymes are biological catalysts. They are made up of proteins and are found in all living cells. They speed up the rate of reactions in the body and remain unchanged at the end.
What is the enzyme that causes the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide? Write the word equation.
Catalase. Hydrogen peroxide + Catalase = Water + Oxygen (HPCOW)
What does amylase break down? Write the word equation.
Starch. Starch + Amylase = Maltose(SAM)
What is the active site?
The active site is the place on an enzyme which is complementary in shape to its substrate. The shape of the active site is complementary to a specific substrate. ENZYMES ARE SPECIFIC TO THEIR SUBSTRATE.
What is meant by optimum conditions?
Optimum conditions are the conditions an enzymes works best at.
What does the optimum temperature for an enzyme mean?
The optimum temperature for an enzyme is the temperature it works best at.
What is the normal temperature that most enzymes work best at? Why?
37°C. It is the normal body temperature.
What is the optimum pH?
The pH an enzyme works best at. The enzyme activity will either increase or decrease depending on the pH. This varies because different enzymes work better at different pHs.
What does ‘denaturing’ mean?
High temperatures or extreme pH values may affect the shape of an enzyme molecule. This is called denaturing and will make the enzyme less effective, possibly even useless. The protein is permanently changed and is therefore irreversible.
