Core Concept Four - Enzymes Flashcards
Define Metabolism
All the reactions that occur in the body.
What sequences occur in the metabolism?
Metabolic Pathways
What are metabolic pathways?
They are the sequences in the metabolism that are enzyme controlled
What is an anabolic reaction?
A reaction that builds molecules up.
Give an example of an anabolic reaction
protein synthesis
What is a catabolic reaction?
A reaction that breaks molecules down.
Give an example of a catabolic reaction
digestion
What happens to the products from one enzyme-controlled reaction?
They become the reactants in the next
Where do reactants in an enzyme-controlled reaction come from?
They were the products in the previous one
What type of protein are enzymes?
They are globular proteins
What are enzymes?
Biological Catalysts
Why are enzymes called biological catalysts?
They are made up of living cells
Name 3 things enzymes have in common with chemical catalysts.
- Speeding up reactions
- Don’t get used up in the reaction
- They do not get changed by the reaction
- high turn over number (catalyse many reactions per second)
What is the condition of an enzyme catalysing a reaction?
it has to be energetically favourable meaning the reaction would happen anyway.
What would happen if we didn’t have enzymes?
The reactions in cells would be too slow to be compatible with life - pointless.
