Enzymes

Front

What is an enzyme?

Back

An enzyme is a biological catalyst that speeds up chemical reactions in living organisms without being consumed in the process.

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 a substrate?

Back

A substrate is the reactant molecule upon which an enzyme acts.

Front

What is the lock-and-key model of enzyme action?

Back

The lock-and-key model describes how the substrate (the key) fits perfectly into the active site (the lock) of the enzyme.

Front

What is the difference between reactants and products in an enzymatic reaction?

Back

Reactants are the starting materials in a reaction, while products are the substances formed as a result of the reaction.

Front

What role do enzymes play in biological reactions?

Back

Enzymes lower the activation energy required for a reaction, thus increasing the rate of the reaction.

Front

What is the significance of enzyme specificity?

Back

Enzyme specificity refers to the ability of an enzyme to choose exact substrate from a group of similar chemical molecules, ensuring that only specific reactions occur.

Front

What factors can affect enzyme activity?

Back

Factors that can affect enzyme activity include temperature, pH, substrate concentration, and the presence of inhibitors or activators.

Front

What is an inhibitor in the context of enzymes?

Back

An inhibitor is a substance that decreases the activity of an enzyme by binding to it and preventing the substrate from binding.

Front

What is an activator in the context of enzymes?

Back

An activator is a substance that increases the activity of an enzyme, often by enhancing the binding of the substrate.