Enzymes

Front

What are enzymes?

Back

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

Front

What is activation energy?

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Activation energy is the minimum amount of energy required to initiate a chemical reaction.

Front

How do enzymes affect activation energy?

Back

Enzymes decrease the activation energy of a reaction, allowing it to proceed more quickly.

Front

What is the active site of an enzyme?

Back

The active site is the specific region on an enzyme where substrates bind and undergo a chemical reaction.

Front

What factors affect enzyme activity?

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Enzyme activity can be affected by temperature, pH, substrate concentration, and the presence of inhibitors or activators.

Front

What is the optimal temperature for most enzymes?

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Most enzymes have an optimal temperature around 37°C (98.6°F), which is the normal body temperature for humans.

Front

What is the optimal pH for enzymes?

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Each enzyme has an optimal pH range, typically between 6 and 8, but some enzymes work best in acidic or basic conditions.

Front

What happens to enzymes at high temperatures?

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At high temperatures, enzymes can denature, losing their shape and functionality, which decreases their activity.

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What is substrate specificity?

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Substrate specificity refers to the ability of an enzyme to choose exact substrates from a group of similar chemical molecules.

Front

What is an enzyme inhibitor?

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An enzyme inhibitor is a substance that decreases or stops the activity of an enzyme by binding to it.