AP Biology Enzymes

Front

What is an enzyme?

Back

An enzyme is a biological catalyst that speeds up chemical reactions in living organisms by lowering the activation energy required for the reaction.

Front

What type of macromolecule are enzymes?

Back

Enzymes are proteins.

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 happens to an enzyme if a mutation occurs in its coding DNA sequence?

Back

The enzyme will most likely fold in a way that makes its shape incompatible with the substrate, leading to loss of function.

Front

What is a catabolic reaction?

Back

A catabolic reaction is a metabolic process that breaks down larger molecules into smaller ones, releasing energy.

Front

What is a substrate in the context of enzymes?

Back

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

Front

What is the role of enzymes in biological reactions?

Back

Enzymes facilitate and accelerate chemical reactions without being consumed in the process.

Front

What factors can affect enzyme activity?

Back

Factors include temperature, pH, substrate concentration, and the presence of inhibitors or activators.

Front

What is an inhibitor in enzyme activity?

Back

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

Front

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

Back

Competitive inhibitors bind to the active site of the enzyme, while non-competitive inhibitors bind to a different site, altering enzyme function.