Unit 1 Basics

Question 1

What are enzymes

Answer 1

Enzymes are protein catalysts that increase the velocity of a chemical reaction and are not consumed during the reaction they catalyse

Question 2

What are difference between enzymes and chemical catalysts

Answer 2

1) Enzymes are made up of proteins
2) Enzymes are highly specific
3) Enzymes may show a high specificity towards one substrate Or exhibit a broad specificity using more than one substrate
4) Enzymes usually function within a moderate pH and temperature range

Question 3

What are active sites

Answer 3

Enzyme molecules contain a special pocket or cleft called the active site
The active site is made up of side chain Amino acids that create a 3d surface complementary to the substrate
The active site binds the substrate forming an enzyme substrate ES complex

Question 4

What are co factors

Answer 4

Some enzymes are joined with some non protein substance called as cofactor. These are needed for enzymatic activity
Cofactors are either inorganic metallic like zn, fe Or else organic like vitamins

Question 5

What is holoenzyme and apoenzyme

Answer 5

Apoenzyme is it protein portion of the enzyme and holoenzyme apoenzyme along with its cofactor

Question 6

What is prosthetic group

Answer 6

A prosthetic group is a tigthly bound cofactor that does not dissociate from the enzyme

Question 7

Explain lock and key theory

Answer 7

The enzyme active site is complementary in conformation to the substrate so that enzyme and substrate recognise each other
1) active site has a rigid shape
2) enzyme only binds substrate that exactly fit the active site
3) Enzyme is analogous to a lock
4) substrate ia key that fits the lock

Question 8

Explain induced fit theory

Answer 8

The enzyme changes shape on binding substrate, so that the conformation of substrate and enzyme is only complementary after binding
1) Enzyme structure is flexible
2) Enzyme and substrate adjust the shape of the active site to bind substrate
3) The range of substrate specificity increases
4) Shape changes improve catalysis during reaction

Question 9

What are the four steps of enzyme action

Answer 9

1) The enzyme and the substrate are in the same area
2) The enzyme grabs on to the substrate at a special area called the active site. The combination is called the enzyme/substrate complexx
3) A process called catalysis occurs when done a enzyme/product complex is formed
4) the enzyme release the product