enzymes

Question 1

define metabolism

Answer 1

the sum of all the enzyme controlled reactions taking place in a cell

Question 2

what are the two main types of reactions that make up metabolism?

Answer 2

anabolic and catabolic reactions

Question 3

what is an enzyme?

Answer 3

an enzyme is a biological catalyst used to speed up the rate of intercellular and extra cellular biochemical reactions. an enzyme cannot be used up or permanently altered

Question 4

what is an intracellular enzyme?

Answer 4

an enzyme that acts within cells, for example catalase

Question 5

what is the active site of an enzyme?

Answer 5

a region on the enzyme that is complementary to the shape of a specific substrate. the substrate binds and the reaction takes place

Question 6

why is the active site described as ‘specific’?

Answer 6

only specific substrates complementary to the active site can bind.
the structure of each enzyme (including the active site) is unique due to the presence of different side chains and branches

Question 7

define activation energy

Answer 7

the minimum amount of energy required for a reaction to take place

Question 8

what is catalysis?

Answer 8

an increase in the rate of a chemical reaction using a catalyst such as an enzyme. the catalyst lowers the activation energy of the reaction

Question 9

what factors affect the rate of an enzyme controlled reaction?

Answer 9

temperature, pH, substrate concentration, and enzyme concentration

Question 10

what is a buffer?

Answer 10

a molecule that maintains a constant pH in a solution when small amounts of acid (H+) or base (OH-) are added