Enzymes

Front

What is a substrate?

Back

A substrate is a molecule upon which an enzyme acts. It binds to the enzyme's active site to form an enzyme-substrate complex.

Front

What determines the specificity of an enzyme for its substrate?

Back

The shape of the enzyme's active site determines its specificity for a particular substrate.

Front

What is the optimum pH for enzyme activity?

Back

The optimum pH is the pH at which an enzyme exhibits maximum activity. For many enzymes, this is around pH 6.6.

Front

What is the active site of an enzyme?

Back

The active site is the region of an enzyme where substrate molecules bind and undergo a chemical reaction.

Front

How do enzymes affect activation energy?

Back

Enzymes lower the activation energy required for a reaction to occur, making it easier for the reaction to proceed.

Front

What is the role of enzymes in biological reactions?

Back

Enzymes act as catalysts in biological reactions, speeding up the rate of the reaction without being consumed in the process.

Front

What happens to an enzyme after it catalyzes a reaction?

Back

After catalyzing a reaction, the enzyme is free to bind to new substrate molecules and can be reused.

Front

What is enzyme denaturation?

Back

Denaturation is the process in which an enzyme loses its functional shape due to factors like extreme pH or temperature, rendering it inactive.

Front

What is the difference between competitive and non-competitive inhibition?

Back

Competitive inhibition occurs when an inhibitor competes with the substrate for the active site, while non-competitive inhibition occurs when an inhibitor binds to a different site on the enzyme.

Front

What is an enzyme-substrate complex?

Back

An enzyme-substrate complex is the temporary complex formed when an enzyme binds to its substrate.