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 primary function of enzymes?

Back

The primary function of enzymes is to lower the activation energy of a reaction, allowing it to occur more easily and quickly.

Front

What are enzymes made of?

Back

Enzymes are primarily made of proteins, which are composed of amino acids.

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 in the context of enzymes?

Back

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

Front

What does it mean for an enzyme to be denatured?

Back

Denaturation is the process in which an enzyme loses its three-dimensional structure due to factors like heat or pH changes, rendering it inactive.

Front

How does temperature affect enzyme activity?

Back

Enzyme activity typically increases with temperature up to a certain point, after which high temperatures can denature the enzyme.

Front

What is the effect of pH on enzyme activity?

Back

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

Front

What is a coenzyme?

Back

A coenzyme is a non-protein organic molecule that assists enzymes in catalyzing reactions.

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.