SB1g+h Enzyme action +activity Flashcards
How are enzymes designed?
so that they only react with one substrate.
Active site?
holds the substrate molecules tightly in the right position for bonds to form between them and make a product molecule.
What happens to the product molecule?
it is released from the active site because it has a slightly different shape to the substrate molecule and no longer fits tightly.
What are enzymes affected by?
temperature and pH.
What is a denatured enzyme?
enzyme with a deformed active site so substrate no longer fits.
What is the optimum pH?
the pH that allows for maximum functioning of enzymes.
What happens at pH below and above the optimum?
the shape of the active site is affected and so the enzyme does not work well.
What happens at low substrate concentration?
many enzyme molecules have empty active sites so the rate of reaction is slow.
What happens at high substrate concentration?
most enzyme active sites contain substrate molecules and the rate of reaction is as fast as it can be.
Explain the effect increasing temperature would have on enzyme activity?
sharp decrease in activity past 40degrees.
Describe how the active site works in an enzyme? (2)
.the active site is where the substrate of the enzyme fits, every enzyme has a specific shape.
.this is where the substrate is broken down.
Explain the role of enzymes as catalysts in digestion is important for life.
They are biological catalysts that increase the rate of reaction, so larger food molecules are broken down and absorbed quickly.
