Enzyme Structure & Function

Question 1

How does the shape of an enzyme influence its function?

Answer 1

The shape of the protein means that enzymes are specific for a particular reaction

Question 2

What is a substrate?

Answer 2

The molecule on which an enzyme acts is called the substrate.

Each enzyme will combine with only one substrate and is therefore involved in only one specific reaction.

Question 3

Why are enzymes so specific?

Answer 3

This occurs because the enzyme and its substrate have characteristics that are complementary to one another;

The enzyme and the substrate have a shape and a structure that allow them to fit together

Question 4

What is an active site?

Answer 4

The part of the enzyme molecule that combines with the substrate is called the active site.

Question 5

What is an enzyme-substrate complex?

Answer 5

When the enzyme and substrate are combined, they are called an enzyme–substrate complex.

Question 6

What is the Lock-and-Key-Model?

Answer 6

States that shape of the enzyme (the key) is always complementary to the shape of the substrate (the lock).

Therefore, the two will fit exactly to form the enzyme– substrate complex.

Question 7

What is the Induced-Fit-Model?

Answer 7

States that when the enzyme and substrate join, they form weak bonds that cause the shape of the enzyme to change, creating complementary shapes.