Enzyme Catalysis

Front

What is enzyme catalysis?

Back

Enzyme catalysis is the process by which enzymes accelerate chemical reactions in biological systems by lowering the activation energy required for the reaction to occur.

Front

What determines the shape of an enzyme?

Back

The shape of an enzyme is determined by the amino acid sequence of the protein and the properties of the amino acids that make up the protein.

Front

Which macromolecule category do enzymes belong to?

Back

Enzymes are classified as proteins.

Front

What is the role of the active site in an enzyme?

Back

The active site is the specific region of an enzyme where substrate molecules bind and undergo a chemical reaction.

Front

What is activation energy?

Back

Activation energy is the minimum energy required for a chemical reaction to occur.

Front

How do enzymes affect activation energy?

Back

Enzymes decrease the activation energy of a reaction, allowing it to proceed more quickly.

Front

What is a substrate in the context of enzyme activity?

Back

A substrate is a reactant molecule that an enzyme acts upon during a chemical reaction.

Front

What is the significance of enzyme specificity?

Back

Enzyme specificity refers to the ability of an enzyme to select and catalyze a specific substrate, ensuring that only certain reactions occur in the cell.

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 or altering its function.