Proteins And Enzymes Flashcards
What are enzymes ?
Enzymes are proteins produced by living cells. They are biological catalysts
What are proteins?
Proteins are long chains of amino acids.
They have structural roles such as muscle tissues
Why does an enzyme have a specific shape?
To allow substrates (molecules) to fit into its active site.
How do the enzyme and substrate fit together?
A lock and key mechanism
What is another name for enzymes?
biological catalysts
What condition effect enzymes?
temperature
pH
all enzymes have optimum conditions to work - the best combination of the above
What temperature do enzymes work best at in the body?
37 degrees c
What happens to enzymes if the temperature is too high or the pH is too extreme?
The enzyme’s active site becomes denatured
Name an industrial use of enzymes
washing powder
chocolate or syrup manufacture
baby food
What is digestion?
The breaking down of large insoluble molecules into smaller soluble molecules that can be absorbed easily into the blood stream.
What effect do enzymes have on digestion?
Speeds it up
Where are enzymes produced?
Specialist glands
lining of the gut
What enzyme breaks starch down?
carbohydrase enzymes e.g. amylase - produced in the salivary glands, pancreas and small intestine
What enzymes break protein down?
protease - made up of amino acids (e.g. pepsin) - produced in the stomach and small intestine
What enzymes break down fats?
Fats are broken down into fatty acids by lipase - produced in the pancreas and small intestine
