Topic 1 -Enzymes : Mechanisms,z Denaturation And Factors Affecting Enzyme Activity Flashcards
What are enzymes?
Biological catalysts that increase the rate of reaction without being used up
What roles do enzymes play in reactions?
They can break up large molecules and join small ones
What type of molecules are enzymes?
Protein molecules
Why is the shape of an enzyme important?
The shape of the enzyme is vital to its function
What is the active site of an enzyme?
The uniquely shaped area where the substrate binds
What does the Lock and Key Hypothesis explain?
How enzymes work by matching the shape of the substrate to the active site
What forms when a substrate binds to an enzyme?
An enzyme-substrate complex
What must happen for enzymes to catalyze reactions?
They must bind to a substrate with a complementary shape
What is enzyme specificity?
The ability of enzymes to only catalyze reactions with substrates that fit their active site
What environmental conditions do enzymes require for optimal activity?
Optimum pH and temperature, as well as optimum substrate concentration
Fill in the blank: Enzymes can only catalyze reactions when they bind to a substrate that has a _______.
complementary shape
What is the optimum temperature range for humans?
Around 37 degrees Celsius
This temperature varies in other organisms.
What happens to the rate of reaction as temperature increases up to the optimum?
It increases
Above the optimum temperature, the reaction rate rapidly decreases and can eventually stop.
What occurs when the temperature becomes too hot for an enzyme?
The bonds holding the enzyme together begin to break
This leads to denaturation.
What is the result of an enzyme being denatured?
The active site changes shape, preventing substrate binding
The enzyme can no longer function.
