Basics of Enzymes

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What are enzymes?
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Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions in living organisms.
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What is the general structure of an enzyme?
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Enzymes are typically proteins with a complex, three-dimensional shape.
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What is the active site of an enzyme?
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The active site is the region on an enzyme where substrate molecules bind and undergo a chemical reaction.
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How do enzymes lower activation energy?
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Enzymes lower the activation energy by stabilizing the transition state, making it easier for the reaction to occur.
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What is substrate specificity?
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Substrate specificity refers to the ability of an enzyme to select and bind to specific substrate molecules.
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What is the lock and key model?
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It is a model explaining that the enzyme's active site is specific to the substrate, fitting together like a key in a lock.
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What is the induced fit model?
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The induced fit model suggests enzymes change shape to accommodate the substrate after binding.
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What effect does temperature have on enzyme activity?
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Temperature can increase enzyme activity up to a point, after which high temperatures can denature enzymes.
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How does pH affect enzyme function?
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Enzymes have an optimal pH range; deviation from this range can cause denaturation, reducing activity.
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What are cofactors?
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Cofactors are non-protein molecules that assist enzymes in catalyzing reactions.
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What distinguishes competitive from non-competitive inhibition?
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Competitive inhibitors bind to the active site, while non-competitive inhibitors bind elsewhere, changing the enzyme's shape.
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How do allosteric enzymes function?
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Allosteric enzymes have sites where regulatory molecules can bind, affecting the enzyme's activity.
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What is enzyme denaturation?
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Denaturation involves the structural modification of an enzyme, leading to loss of function.
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What is the role of an enzyme in metabolism?
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Enzymes accelerate metabolic processes, facilitating complex reactions within cells.
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Why are enzymes important in biological systems?
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They allow metabolic reactions to occur at necessary speeds to sustain life at biological temperatures.
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