Topic 2 Enzymes % Flashcards
What are enzymes
Biological catalyst
What do enzymes reduce the need for
High temperatures
What is a catalyst
A catalyst is a substance which increases the speed of a reaction without being used up
What are enzymes made up of
Enzymes are large proteins made up of chains of amino acids
What shape is the active site
Unique shape that fits onto the substance involved in a reaction
What is needed for an enzyme to work
The substrate has to fit into its active site
What happens if the substrate doesn’t match the enzymes active site
Then the reaction won’t be catalysed
What is the model of the active site binding to the enzyme
Lock and key
The active site changes shape a little in the substrate binds what is it called
Induced fit
What does change the temperature do to an enzyme
Change the rate of an enzyme catalysed reaction
What happens if an enzyme gets too hot
The active site changes shape and the substrate won’t fit anymore
Denatured 
What is the optimum temperature
The temperature enzymes work best at
Where the enzyme is most reactive
What happens if the temperature is too low for an enzyme
The reaction will happen really slowly
What happens if the pH is too low or high for enzyme
The active site changes shape and becomes denatured
What are most enzymes optimum pH
PH7
