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
When is an enzyme most active?
At its optimum condition
Name two factors that can affect enzymes.
Temperature
pH
Explain why enzyme molecules are inactive at 0 degrees.
The substrate and enzyme is moving too slow so there’s less of a chance for them to collide
Explain why enzyme activity increases as temperature increases.
The enzyme and substrate molecules have energy to move to form an enzyme-substrate complex
What is it meant by the optimum temperature?
This is when the enzymes is at its fastest
What happens to the shape of the enzyme molecule at 50 degrees?
It changes shape
What is the effect of increasing the temperature above 50 degrees?
The enzyme becomes denatured so the substrate no longer fits meaning it doesn’t work anymore.
What does working range pH mean?
The pH range from when the enzyme is active.
What does optimum pH mean?
The pH point which makes the enzyme the most active.
