Enzymes

Front

What is a substance that is acted upon by an enzyme called?

Back

Substrate

Front

What term describes the temporary slight changes to an enzyme's active site that occur during a chemical reaction?

Back

Induced fit

Front

How does the rate of a chemical reaction generally change as temperature increases?

Back

It increases.

Front

What is the optimal temperature for enzyme activity based on typical enzyme graphs?

Back

It varies by enzyme, but often around 30°C for many enzymes.

Front

What is the role of enzymes in biological reactions?

Back

Enzymes act as catalysts to speed up chemical reactions.

Front

What is the effect of pH on enzyme activity?

Back

Each enzyme has an optimal pH range; deviations can reduce activity.

Front

What happens to enzymes at high temperatures?

Back

They can denature, losing their functional shape.

Front

What is the term for the region on an enzyme where the substrate binds?

Back

Active site.

Front

What is the difference between competitive and non-competitive inhibition?

Back

Competitive inhibition occurs when an inhibitor competes with the substrate for the active site; non-competitive inhibition occurs when an inhibitor binds to a different site, altering enzyme function.

Front

What is enzyme specificity?

Back

Enzymes are specific to particular substrates due to their unique active site shapes.