Unit 1.4: Enzymes Flashcards
What are enzymes made of?
Proteins
What are enzymes made by?
Living cells
What other name is enzymes known?
Biological catalyst
State the function of an enzyme.
To break down or build up substances
Explain why enzymes are important.
They speed up cellular reactions
How can enzymes be used multiple times?
Because it doesn’t get used up
State the name given to the site on an enzyme to which the substrate attaches.
Enzyme-substrate complex
What does enzyme action result in?
Products either being broken down or built up
What is the name of the area the enzyme-substrate attaches to?
The active site
Define degradation.
Breaking down reactants
Define synthesis.
Building up reactions
Give examples of degradation.
The breakdown of starch into maltose using the enzyme amlyase
The breakdown of hydrogen peroxide into oxygen and water by the enzyme catalase
Give an example of synthesis.
Glucose-1-phosphate into starch by the enzyme potato phosphorylase
Whats does it mean ‘enzymes are specific’?
Only certain shaped substrates can perfectly fit the enzymes active site
Explain why enzymes are specific?
They’re active site can only fit one type of substrate