Enzymes

Front

What is an enzyme?

Back

A biological catalyst that speeds up chemical reactions in living organisms.

Front

What is a substrate?

Back

The reactant molecule upon which an enzyme acts.

Front

What is a product in enzymatic reactions?

Back

The substance that is formed as a result of the enzymatic reaction.

Front

What is the active site of an enzyme?

Back

The specific region of an enzyme where the substrate binds and the reaction occurs.

Front

What is the enzyme-substrate complex?

Back

The temporary complex formed when an enzyme binds to its substrate.

Front

What factors affect enzyme activity?

Back

Temperature, pH, substrate concentration, and enzyme concentration.

Front

What is the optimal temperature for enzyme activity?

Back

The temperature at which an enzyme functions most efficiently.

Front

How does temperature affect enzyme activity?

Back

Increasing temperature generally increases reaction rates up to a point, after which the enzyme may denature.

Front

What is enzyme denaturation?

Back

The process in which an enzyme loses its functional shape due to extreme conditions, rendering it inactive.

Front

What role do enzymes play in biological reactions?

Back

They lower the activation energy required for reactions, thus speeding up the process.