KS practice #5 of 14 Enzymes

Front

What is an enzyme?

Back

A protein that acts as a catalyst to speed up chemical reactions in biological processes.

Front

What is the active site of an enzyme?

Back

The specific region on the enzyme where the substrate binds and the reaction occurs.

Front

What happens to an enzyme when it is denatured?

Back

The enzyme loses its shape and can no longer function properly.

Front

What is the optimum temperature for enzyme activity?

Back

The temperature at which an enzyme functions most efficiently.

Front

How does pH affect enzyme activity?

Back

Each enzyme has an optimal pH range; deviations can reduce activity or denature the enzyme.

Front

What is substrate specificity?

Back

The ability of an enzyme to select and bind to a specific substrate.

Front

What role do enzymes play in metabolic pathways?

Back

Enzymes facilitate and regulate the series of chemical reactions in metabolic pathways.

Front

What is a competitive inhibitor?

Back

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

Front

What is a non-competitive inhibitor?

Back

A substance that binds to an enzyme at a site other than the active site, reducing its activity.

Front

What is the effect of temperature on enzyme activity?

Back

Increasing temperature generally increases activity up to the optimum, after which activity declines.