Enzymes

Front

What is an enzyme?

Back

An enzyme is a biological catalyst that speeds up chemical reactions in living organisms without being consumed in the process.

Front

What is the function of lactase?

Back

Lactase is an enzyme that breaks down lactose, a sugar found in milk, into monosaccharides (glucose and galactose).

Front

What is a catalyst?

Back

A catalyst is a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without undergoing any permanent chemical change.

Front

What is the active site of an enzyme?

Back

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

Front

What is a substrate?

Back

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

Front

What is the optimum pH for an enzyme?

Back

The optimum pH is the pH at which an enzyme's activity is at its maximum.

Front

How does temperature affect enzyme activity?

Back

Enzyme activity generally increases with temperature up to a certain point (optimum temperature), after which it decreases due to denaturation.

Front

What is enzyme denaturation?

Back

Denaturation is the process in which an enzyme loses its functional shape due to extreme conditions, such as high temperature or extreme pH.

Front

What are products in an enzyme-catalyzed reaction?

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Products are the substances that are produced as a result of the enzyme-catalyzed reaction.

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 part of the enzyme, changing its shape.