Exam 2 (Chap 6-8, 11) Flashcards
(283 cards)
What are enzymes?
Powerful and specific catalysts that increase rates of chemical reactions without being altered at the end of the reaction.
Almost every biochemical reaction is catalyzed by an enzyme.
What is the active site of an enzyme?
A specialized pocket where enzymatic reactions happen.
The active site provides a specific environment for reactions to occur rapidly.
What is a substrate?
The molecule that is bound in the active site and acted upon by the enzyme.
The substrate binds to the enzyme’s active site.
What role do cofactors play in enzymatic reactions?
They participate in catalysis or stabilize protein structure.
Some enzymes require cofactors and coenzymes for their activity.
Define coenzymes.
Organic or metalloorganic molecules that carry functional groups necessary for enzymatic activity.
Coenzymes can be tightly or covalently bound to enzymes.
What is a holoenzyme?
The complete enzyme with its coenzyme or cofactor.
In contrast, an apoenzyme is the enzyme without its cofactor.
What is the enzyme classification based on?
The type of reaction they catalyze.
All enzymes have formal E.C. numbers and names.
What does the suffix ‘ase’ indicate?
It typically indicates an enzyme that converts a substrate (S) to a product (P).
Enzymes are not consumed during the reaction.
What is the transition state (TS)?
The point at which the formation of substrate or product is equally likely to happen, requiring high energy.
ΔG‡ is the free energy associated with this transition state.
What effect do enzymes have on activation energy?
Enzymes lower the activation energy (ΔG‡) of a reaction, allowing it to proceed faster.
They do not change the overall free energy change (ΔG) between reactants and products.
What is a rate-limiting step?
The highest activation energy that determines the overall rate of the reaction.
This step is crucial for the reaction kinetics.
What is the relationship between equilibrium constant (K’) and free energy?
The equilibrium constant is directly related to standard free energy change (ΔG’°).
ΔG’° = -RT * ln(K’).
Fill in the blank: Enzymes alter ______, not equilibria.
RATES
True or False: Enzymes change the free energy of the substrate and product.
False
Enzymes do not alter the free energy (ΔG) between reactants and products.
What is the role of reaction intermediates?
Species with a limited lifetime that are formed during the reaction process.
Examples include ES (enzyme-substrate complex) and EP (enzyme-product complex).
What does a negative ΔG indicate?
A thermodynamically favorable reaction, meaning products have lower free energy than reactants.
This indicates that the reaction can occur spontaneously.
How do enzymes stabilize the transition state?
By lowering the energy barrier to reaching the product state.
This stabilization is key to enhancing reaction rates.
Which of the following aspects of a biochemical reaction is changed by an enzyme?
Free energy (G) of the substrate
Free energy (G) of the product
ΔG’° for the conversion of S -> P
ΔG‡ for the conversion of S -> P
K’eq for the conversion of S -> P
ΔG‡ for the conversion of S -> P
What is the transient complex of the enzyme with the substrate called?
ES
ES stands for enzyme-substrate complex.
What is the transient complex of the enzyme with the product called?
EP
EP stands for enzyme-product complex.
What do enzymes do?
Enzymes are catalysts that speed up chemical reactions without being consumed.
How do enzymes accelerate the conversion of substrate into product?
By lowering the activation energy (ΔG‡).
Do enzymes alter equilibria?
No, enzymes alter rates, not equilibria.
What is the range of enzyme rate enhancements (k_cat/k_uncat)?
5 to 17 orders of rate enhancements.