Understanding Enzymes

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What is an enzyme?

An enzyme is a protein that acts as a biological catalyst to speed up chemical reactions in cells.

How do enzymes work as catalysts?

Enzymes lower the activation energy needed for a reaction, allowing it to occur faster.

What is the active site of an enzyme?

The active site is the region on the enzyme where the substrate binds and the reaction occurs.

What are substrates in enzymatic reactions?

Substrates are the specific reactants that an enzyme acts on during a chemical reaction.

What is enzyme specificity?

Enzyme specificity refers to the enzyme's ability to choose exact substrates and catalyze only one specific type of reaction.

What factors can affect the activity of enzymes?

Factors include temperature, pH, and concentration of both substrate and enzyme.

Why is an enzyme's shape important?

The specific shape of an enzyme determines its function and the types of reactions it can catalyze.

What happens when an enzyme is denatured?

Denaturation occurs when an enzyme loses its specific shape, often due to heat or pH change, hence it loses its function.

What is meant by the term ‘enzyme inhibition’?

Enzyme inhibition refers to a process where a molecule decreases or stops the activity of an enzyme.

How do competitive inhibitors work in enzyme inhibition?

Competitive inhibitors bind to the active site of an enzyme, competing with the substrate and blocking its binding.

What is a non-competitive inhibitor?

A non-competitive inhibitor binds to a site other than the active site of an enzyme, causing a change in shape and reducing its activity.

What is enzyme kinetics?

Enzyme kinetics is the study of the rates of enzyme-catalyzed reactions.

What is the ‘lock and key’ model of enzyme action?

The 'lock and key' model describes how enzymes and substrates fit together precisely, like a key fitting into a lock.

What is the 'induced fit' model of enzyme action?

The 'induced fit' model suggests that the active site of an enzyme changes shape to fit the substrate as it binds.

Why are enzymes important to biological processes?

Enzymes are crucial as they regulate all biological processes, enabling complex reactions to occur at the speed necessary for life.