Enzymes Flashcards
1
Q
What are enzymes?
A
Large 3D protein molecules which catalyse reactions such as digestion.
2
Q
What do enzymes do in digestion?
A
They break down food molecules so that they are small enough to enter the blood stream.
3
Q
How are starch (carbohydrates) molecules broken down?
A
- Amylase breaks down starch to maltose.
- This isn’t small enough to enter the bloodstream so Maltase breaks down maltose to glucose which is easily absorbed by the bloodstream.
4
Q
How are fats (lipids) broken down?
A
- Bile from the liver mixes with the fat to make an emulsion and this neutralises the PH in the stomach because lipase needs to work in PH 7.
- Then Lipase from the pancreas breaks down the fats to fatty acids and glycerol which is easily absorbed.
5
Q
How are protein molecules broken down?
A
- Tryspin from the pancreas breaks down proteins molecules into peptides.
- Then peptidase breaks down peptides into amino acids which are easily absorbed.
6
Q
What is the features of an active site in an enzyme?
A
- The active site has a unique,specific shape that will only fit the correct substrate (other molecule in the reaction).
- When the correct substrate fits into the active site an enzyme substrate complex is formed which allows the enzyme to catalyse a reaction.
7
Q
What are two ways an enzyme can be denatured?
A
- By high temperatures
- By PH if it isn’t the PH that the enzyme works well in it means that the PH will change the shape of the enzymes active site (denature it).
