Enzymes

Front

What are enzymes?

Back

Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed 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 on 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 does the term 'optimum pH' refer to in enzyme activity?

Back

Optimum pH is the pH level at which an enzyme's activity is at its maximum.

Front

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

Back

The 'lock and key' model describes how a substrate fits into the active site of an enzyme like a key fits into a lock.

Front

What factors can affect enzyme activity?

Back

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

Front

What is activation energy?

Back

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

Front

How do temperature changes affect enzyme activity?

Back

Increasing temperature generally increases enzyme activity up to a certain point, after which the enzyme may denature and lose function.

Front

What happens to enzymes at extreme pH levels?

Back

Extreme pH levels can denature enzymes, altering their structure and rendering them inactive.

Front

What is enzyme specificity?

Back

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