AP - Unit 3: Metabolism, Energy and Enzymes

Front

What is metabolism?

Back

Metabolism refers to the sum of all chemical reactions that occur within a living organism to maintain life, including catabolism (breaking down molecules) and anabolism (building up molecules).

Front

What is the role of enzymes in metabolic reactions?

Back

Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up metabolic reactions by lowering the activation energy required for the reaction to occur.

Front

Define 'optimum pH' for enzymes.

Back

Optimum pH is the specific pH at which an enzyme's activity is at its maximum. Enzymes have different optimum pH levels depending on their environment.

Front

What is a competitive inhibitor?

Back

A competitive inhibitor is a substance that binds to the active site of an enzyme, preventing the substrate from binding and thus inhibiting the enzyme's activity.

Front

How does temperature affect enzyme activity?

Back

Temperature affects enzyme activity; generally, as temperature increases, enzyme activity increases until it reaches an optimum temperature, after which the enzyme may denature.

Front

What is denaturation in enzymes?

Back

Denaturation is the process in which an enzyme loses its three-dimensional structure due to external factors like temperature or pH, resulting in loss of function.

Front

What is the active site of an enzyme?

Back

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

Front

Explain the term 'substrate' in enzymatic reactions.

Back

A substrate is the reactant molecule upon which an enzyme acts, undergoing a chemical change to form products.

Front

What is the effect of low temperatures on enzymatic activity?

Back

Low temperatures slow down molecular movement, resulting in a decreased reaction rate for enzymatic activity.

Front

What is the significance of enzyme shape?

Back

The shape of an enzyme is crucial as it determines the enzyme's specificity for its substrate and its overall function.