Enzymes

Front

What are enzymes?

Back

Enzymes are proteins that act as catalysts to speed up chemical reactions in biological systems.

Front

How do enzymes speed up chemical reactions?

Back

Enzymes speed up chemical reactions by lowering the activation energy required for the reaction to occur.

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 determines the specificity of an enzyme?

Back

The shape of the enzyme determines its specificity, as it can only bind to substrates that fit its active site.

Front

What is a substrate?

Back

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

Front

What is an enzyme-substrate complex?

Back

An enzyme-substrate complex is formed when an enzyme binds to its substrate, facilitating the conversion of substrate to product.

Front

What happens to enzymes after a reaction?

Back

Enzymes are not consumed in the reaction and can be reused multiple times.

Front

What factors can affect enzyme activity?

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Factors that can affect enzyme activity include temperature, pH, and substrate concentration.

Front

What is denaturation in relation to enzymes?

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Denaturation is the process where an enzyme loses its functional shape due to extreme conditions, rendering it inactive.

Front

Why are enzymes important in biological systems?

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Enzymes are crucial for facilitating biochemical reactions necessary for life, such as digestion and metabolism.