AP Enzymes

Front

What is an enzyme?

Back

A biological catalyst that speeds up chemical reactions in living organisms by lowering the activation energy.

Front

What is activation energy?

Back

The minimum amount of energy required for a chemical reaction to occur.

Front

What is the active site of an enzyme?

Back

The specific region of an enzyme where substrate molecules bind and undergo a chemical reaction.

Front

What is the role of pH in enzyme activity?

Back

pH affects the shape and charge of the enzyme and substrate, influencing the binding and reaction rate.

Front

What is an allosteric site?

Back

A site on an enzyme where a molecule can bind, causing a change in the enzyme's shape and activity.

Front

How do temperature changes affect enzyme activity?

Back

Increased temperature generally increases reaction rates up to a point, after which the enzyme may denature and lose activity.

Front

What is enzyme denaturation?

Back

The process in which an enzyme loses its functional shape due to external stressors like extreme pH or temperature.

Front

What is substrate concentration's effect on enzyme activity?

Back

Increasing substrate concentration increases the reaction rate until the enzyme becomes saturated.

Front

What is enzyme specificity?

Back

The ability of an enzyme to choose exact substrates from a group of similar chemical molecules.

Front

What is a competitive inhibitor?

Back

A substance that competes with the substrate for binding to the active site of an enzyme.