Review #2: Enzymes

Front

What is an enzyme?

Back

An enzyme is a biological catalyst that accelerates chemical reactions in living organisms.

Front

What is the role of the active site in an enzyme?

Back

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

Front

What is a catalyst?

Back

A catalyst is a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process.

Front

What suffix do most enzymes have?

Back

Most enzymes typically end with the suffix '-ase'.

Front

What factors can affect enzyme activity?

Back

Enzyme activity can be affected by temperature, pH, substrate concentration, and the presence of inhibitors or activators.

Front

What is the significance of pH in enzyme activity?

Back

Each enzyme has an optimal pH at which it functions best; deviations can lead to decreased activity or denaturation.

Front

What is enzyme specificity?

Back

Enzyme specificity refers to the ability of an enzyme to select and catalyze a specific substrate among many possible candidates.

Front

How do temperature changes affect enzyme activity?

Back

Increasing temperature generally increases enzyme activity up to a certain point, after which the enzyme may denature and lose function.

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, while non-competitive inhibition occurs when an inhibitor binds to a different site, altering enzyme function.

Front

What is an enzyme-substrate complex?

Back

An enzyme-substrate complex is the temporary molecule formed when an enzyme binds to its substrate.