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 is the role of substrates in enzyme reactions?

Back

Substrates are the reactants that enzymes act upon. They bind to the enzyme's active site, where the reaction occurs.

Front

What does it mean for an enzyme to be denatured?

Back

Denaturation is the process where an enzyme loses its three-dimensional structure due to factors like temperature or pH changes, resulting in a loss of function.

Front

What is activation energy?

Back

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

Front

How do enzymes affect the rate of chemical reactions?

Back

Enzymes increase the rate of chemical reactions by lowering the activation energy needed for the reaction to occur.

Front

What is the significance of a negative Delta G in a reaction?

Back

A negative Delta G indicates that the reaction releases energy and is spontaneous, meaning it can occur without external energy input.

Front

What are the main types of biological macromolecules?

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The main types of biological macromolecules are proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids.

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 takes place.

Front

What factors can affect enzyme activity?

Back

Factors that can affect enzyme activity include temperature, pH, substrate concentration, and the presence of inhibitors or activators.

Front

What is an enzyme inhibitor?

Back

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