Enzymes: Basics and Functions

Tap or click on cards to flip them and reveal the answers. You can use arrow keys as well.

  • Loading folders...
1/15 cards
What is an enzyme?
Click to flip
An enzyme is a biological catalyst that speeds up chemical reactions in cells.
Click to flip
How do enzymes work?
Click to flip
Enzymes lower the activation energy of a reaction, allowing it to proceed faster.
Click to flip
What is the active site of an enzyme?
Click to flip
The active site is the region on an enzyme where the substrate molecules bind and undergo a chemical reaction.
Click to flip
What is a substrate in the context of enzymes?
Click to flip
A substrate is the reactant that an enzyme acts upon during a chemical reaction.
Click to flip
What does it mean when an enzyme is described as 'specific'?
Click to flip
Enzymes are specific because they typically catalyze only one type of reaction for a particular substrate.
Click to flip
How does temperature affect enzyme activity?
Click to flip
Higher temperatures generally increase enzyme activity, but extreme temperatures can denature enzymes.
Click to flip
What is enzyme denaturation?
Click to flip
Denaturation is the irreversible alteration of an enzyme's structure, resulting in a loss of function.
Click to flip
How does pH affect enzyme activity?
Click to flip
Each enzyme has an optimal pH; deviance from this pH can reduce enzyme activity and lead to denaturation.
Click to flip
What is a coenzyme?
Click to flip
A coenzyme is a non-protein compound that helps an enzyme carry out its function.
Click to flip
Can you name a factor, other than temperature and pH, that affects enzyme activity?
Click to flip
Substrate concentration can affect enzyme activity; increased concentration can increase activity up to a point.
Click to flip
What is an enzyme inhibitor?
Click to flip
An enzyme inhibitor is a molecule that binds to an enzyme and decreases its activity.
Click to flip
What is competitive inhibition?
Click to flip
Competitive inhibition occurs when an inhibitor competes with the substrate for the active site of an enzyme.
Click to flip
What is allosteric regulation in enzymes?
Click to flip
Allosteric regulation involves the binding of a molecule to a site other than the active site, changing enzyme activity.
Click to flip
How are enzymes used in the industry?
Click to flip
Enzymes are used in various industries, including detergents, food processing, and pharmaceuticals, to speed up chemical processes.
Click to flip
What is the induced fit model?
Click to flip
The induced fit model suggests that enzyme binding to the substrate causes a change in the enzyme's shape to facilitate the reaction.
Click to flip

Need More Study Materials?

Go back to the chat to generate additional resources.

Create More Resources