AP Biology Enzymes

Front

What are enzymes?

Back

Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions in living organisms by lowering the activation energy required for the reaction.

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

What is denaturation in the context of enzymes?

Back

Denaturation is the process by which an enzyme loses its three-dimensional structure and, consequently, its functionality due to factors like extreme temperature or pH.

Front

What are the building blocks of enzymes?

Back

Enzymes are made up of amino acids, which are the repeating monomers that link together to form proteins.

Front

What is competitive inhibition?

Back

Competitive inhibition occurs when a substance similar to the substrate competes for binding at the active site of the enzyme, reducing the rate of reaction.

Front

What is allosteric activation?

Back

Allosteric activation is when a molecule binds to an enzyme at a site other than the active site, enhancing the enzyme's activity and increasing its affinity for the substrate.

Front

What is the role of temperature in enzyme activity?

Back

Temperature affects enzyme activity; each enzyme has an optimal temperature range, and deviations can lead to denaturation or reduced activity.

Front

What is the effect of pH on enzyme activity?

Back

Enzymes have an optimal pH range; extreme pH levels can lead to denaturation and loss of function.

Front

What is the difference between competitive and noncompetitive inhibition?

Back

Competitive inhibition involves a molecule competing for the active site, while noncompetitive inhibition occurs when a molecule binds to an enzyme at a different site, reducing its activity regardless of substrate concentration.

Front

What is activation energy?

Back

Activation energy is the minimum energy required for a chemical reaction to occur.