Metabolism and Enzymes

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Metabolism

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Metabolism refers to all the chemical reactions (metabolic processes) that occur in the body's cells. These reactions provide energy for vital processes and for synthesizing new organic material. They are accelerated by enzymes.

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Enzymes

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Enzymes are special proteins that act as catalysts in chemical reactions within the body. They speed up the rate of chemical reactions without being changed themselves.

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Catalyst

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A catalyst is a substance that speeds up a chemical reaction without itself being changed.

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Digestive enzymes

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Digestive enzymes are enzymes that catalyze the breakdown of larger molecules into smaller ones. This process is called a hydrolysis reaction.

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Substrate

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A substrate is the substance an enzyme works on.

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Product

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A product is the substance produced by the enzyme after it acts on the substrate.

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Naming of enzymes

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Most enzymes are named with the suffix "ase" and are named after the substrate they act on, such as carbohydrase, maltase, lipase, and protease.

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Properties of enzymes

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1. Enzymes are catalysts. 2. Enzymes are proteins. 3. Enzymes work at a specific temperature: - High temperatures can denature enzymes, making them inactive. - The temperature at which an enzyme works best is called the optimum temperature. 4. Enzymes work best at a particular pH: - Enzymes become denatured if the pH is outside their required range. 5. Enzymes are specific: - They have an active site specifically suited for the shape of their substrate.

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Amylase

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breaks down starch to maltose

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Maltase

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Breaks down Maltose to glucose