Enzymes

Front

What are enzymes?

Back

Enzymes are proteins that act as biological catalysts, speeding up chemical reactions in living organisms.

Front

How do enzymes speed up reaction rates?

Back

Enzymes speed up reaction rates by lowering the activation energy required for a reaction to occur.

Front

What is the enzyme-substrate complex?

Back

The enzyme-substrate complex is a temporary molecule formed when an enzyme binds to its substrate.

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 occurs.

Front

What factors can affect enzyme activity?

Back

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

Front

What is the optimal temperature for enzyme activity?

Back

The optimal temperature is the temperature at which an enzyme functions most efficiently, often around 30°C for many enzymes.

Front

What happens to enzymes at high temperatures?

Back

At high temperatures, enzymes can denature, losing their shape and functionality.

Front

What is denaturation in enzymes?

Back

Denaturation is the process where an enzyme loses its three-dimensional structure, rendering it inactive.

Front

What role do enzymes play in metabolism?

Back

Enzymes facilitate metabolic reactions, including catabolism (breaking down molecules) and anabolism (building up molecules).

Front

What is substrate specificity?

Back

Substrate specificity refers to the ability of an enzyme to choose exact substrate molecules to catalyze a reaction.