Enzyme Review

Front

What is an enzyme?

Back

A protein that acts as a catalyst to speed up chemical reactions in biological processes.

Front

What is the role of catalase in the body?

Back

Catalase breaks down hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen, preventing cellular damage.

Front

What happens to an enzyme when it is denatured?

Back

The enzyme loses its three-dimensional structure, rendering it inactive and unable to catalyze reactions.

Front

What is a substrate in enzymatic reactions?

Back

The substance on which an enzyme acts during a chemical reaction.

Front

What is the enzyme-substrate complex?

Back

A temporary complex formed when an enzyme binds to its substrate.

Front

How does temperature affect enzyme activity?

Back

Increased temperature can enhance enzyme activity up to a certain point, after which the enzyme may denature.

Front

What is the effect of pH on enzyme activity?

Back

Each enzyme has an optimal pH range; deviations can lead to decreased activity or denaturation.

Front

What is the difference between competitive and non-competitive inhibition?

Back

Competitive inhibition occurs when an inhibitor competes with the substrate for the active site, while non-competitive inhibition occurs when an inhibitor binds to a different site, altering enzyme function.

Front

What is the active site of an enzyme?

Back

The specific region of an enzyme where the substrate binds and the reaction occurs.

Front

What is a cofactor?

Back

A non-protein molecule that assists enzymes in catalyzing reactions, often by stabilizing the enzyme or substrate.