Enzymes Flashcards
(135 cards)
Define enzymes.
Proteins that function to increase the rate of a reaction.
What type of proteins are enzymes?
most are globular
What type of specificity do they have? How?
Strict specificity, many weak interactions between the E-S
Why is it important to understand enzymes?
Are the functional entities of many cells
How are enzymes categorized?
According to the reactions they catalyze
What is the enzyme suffix?
- ase
What can they catalyze (reactions)?
Forward and backward reactions
What is catalyzed in oxidoreductases?
Addition or reduction of electrons (oxido-reduction)
What is catalyzed in transferases?
Transfers of groups
What is catalyzed in hydrolases?
Hydolysis reactions where a molecule is split into two or more smaller molecules by the addition of water
What can the enzyme hierarchy be compared to?
Taxonomy
What is catalyzed in lyases?
Addition of groups across a double bond or elimination of groups to generate double bonds
What is catalyzed in isomerases?
Atomic rearrangements within a molecule (trans vs cis)
What is catalyzed in ligases?
Reaction which joins 2 molecules and drives the formation of a new bond (condensation reactions)
What is particular about ligases?
Use energy derived from ATP
Do enzymes catalyze by themselves? What do they require? Why?
Some can
Others require quaternary structure, important for controlling allisteric effect
Some need cofactors
How will apoenzymes bind to a cofactor?
- Non covalent bonds: can dissociate
- Covalent bonds: cannot dissociate
What is an apoenzyme?
Enzyme with minimal activity which will bind to a cofactor to have full activity (holoenzyme)
What are the two kinds of enzyme cofactors?
- Inorganic: metal ions
- Organic: coenzymes or prosthetic groups (vitamins)
Which are bound more tightly: coenzymes or prosthetic groups?
Prosthetic more tight than coenzymes
Do enzymes change the chemistry of the reaction?
NO
How do they accelerate the reaction?
Lowering the energy of activation
Stabilizing the transition state intermediate
How is the transition state intermediate in solution?
Highly unstable
Define energy of activation.
Amount of energy required to achieve the transition state