Enzymes Flashcards
(16 cards)
What is a catalyst?
A catalyst is a substance which increases the speed of a reaction, without being changed or used up In the reaction.
What makes chemical reactions work?
Enzymes
Why do we have enzymes?
To speed up the useful chemical reactions in the body
What are enzymes?
enzymes are biological catalysts which speed up chemical reactions in living organisms without being changed, or used up
What is the substance the enzyme acts on called?
Substrate
What are all proteins made up of?
Chains of amino acids
What happens if the substrate doesn’t match the enzyme’s active site?
The reaction wont be catalysed.
True or false: every enzyme has on active site with a unique shape that fits onto the substance involved in a reaction
True.
What do chemical reactions normally involve?
Things either being spilt apart or joined together
What happens to an enzyme when the temperature gets too hot?
Some of the bonds holding the enzyme together break and changes the shape of the active site. The enzyme denatures
What is it called when an enzyme slightly changes shape to get a fighter fit on the substrate?
Induced fit
What is the optimum temperature?
The temperature an enzyme works best at and is most active. Going beyond this temperature will cause the enzyme to denature
What happens to an enzyme if the pH or temperature is too high or too low?
The pH and temperature interferes with the bonds holding the enzyme together, which changes the shape of the enzyme, causing it to denature
What is the best pH enzymes usually work at?
pH7
Which enzyme break’s down proteins in the stomach?
Pepsin
What pH level does pepsin work best at?
pH 2
