Enzymes

Front

What is a biological catalyst?

Back

A biological catalyst is a substance that increases the rate of a biochemical reaction without being consumed in the process, commonly known as an enzyme.

Front

What is the role of enzymes in biochemical processes?

Back

Enzymes facilitate and accelerate biochemical reactions by lowering the activation energy required for the reaction to occur.

Front

What happens to enzymes when they are exposed to extreme temperatures?

Back

Extreme temperatures can cause enzymes to denature, meaning they lose their specific shape and functionality.

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

Why is the specificity of enzymes important?

Back

Enzyme specificity ensures that enzymes catalyze only specific reactions, which is crucial for maintaining metabolic pathways and cellular functions.

Front

What is the effect of pH on enzyme activity?

Back

Each enzyme has an optimal pH range in which it functions best; deviations from this range can reduce enzyme activity or denature the enzyme.

Front

What is maltase and what does it catalyze?

Back

Maltase is an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of maltose into glucose.

Front

How do enzymes lower activation energy?

Back

Enzymes lower activation energy by stabilizing the transition state and providing an alternative reaction pathway.

Front

What is enzyme denaturation?

Back

Enzyme denaturation is the process in which an enzyme loses its three-dimensional structure and, consequently, its activity due to external factors like temperature or pH.

Front

What is the significance of enzyme concentration in a reaction?

Back

Increasing enzyme concentration generally increases the rate of reaction, provided there is enough substrate available.