AP Biology Enzymes

Front

What is the role of enzymes in biochemical reactions?

Back

Enzymes act as catalysts that speed up biochemical reactions by lowering the activation energy required for the reaction to occur.

Front

What is a noncompetitive inhibitor?

Back

A noncompetitive inhibitor is a substance that decreases the activity of an enzyme by binding to a site other than the active site, regardless of the presence of substrate.

Front

What is feedback inhibition in metabolic pathways?

Back

Feedback inhibition is a regulatory mechanism in which the end product of a metabolic pathway inhibits an enzyme involved in its synthesis, preventing overproduction.

Front

What are enzymes primarily made of?

Back

Enzymes are primarily made of amino acids, which are linked together to form polypeptide chains.

Front

What is the function of amylase?

Back

Amylase is an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of starch into sugars.

Front

How does substrate concentration affect enzyme activity?

Back

Increasing substrate concentration generally increases enzyme activity up to a certain point, after which the enzyme becomes saturated and the reaction rate levels off.

Front

What is the active site of an enzyme?

Back

The active site is the specific region of an enzyme where substrate molecules bind and undergo a chemical reaction.

Front

What is the difference between competitive and noncompetitive inhibition?

Back

Competitive inhibition occurs when an inhibitor competes with the substrate for the active site, while noncompetitive inhibition occurs when an inhibitor binds to a different site, reducing the enzyme's activity regardless of substrate presence.

Front

What is the significance of enzyme specificity?

Back

Enzyme specificity refers to the ability of an enzyme to select and catalyze a specific substrate, ensuring that biochemical reactions occur efficiently and correctly.

Front

What factors can affect enzyme activity?

Back

Factors that can affect enzyme activity include temperature, pH, substrate concentration, and the presence of inhibitors or activators.