Introduction to AS Biology - Enzymes and Proteins Flashcards
(41 cards)
What is every enzyme?
A protein, which is a chain of amino acids
Describe the size of enzymes
Very large compared to other compounds
What is the main purpose of enzymes to be?
Biological catalysts
Biological catalysts
Biological - made by living cells
Catalysts - a substance which increases the rate of a reaction without itself undergoing permanent chemical change (can be re-used)
What’s is a Buffer solution?
It maintains the pH of a reaction (most enzymes work best at a pH of 7)
How do most enzymes work best?
At a pH of 7
How do enzymes work as catalysts?
Enzymes reduce the activation energy of a reaction, making the reaction faster
(heat is normally used to give energy for a reaction to start, yet this can damage cells)
What are Proteins?
Biological compounds formed from smaller molecules known as amino acids joined by covalent bonds
Which group of Biological compounds do all enzymes belong to?
Proteins
Which groups do you have on the amino acids structure?
-Hydrogen on its own
-Amine group
-Carboxyl group
-Variable group
Amine group (amino acids)
H
I
H _ N
Carboxyl group (amino acids)
O
II
C _ OH
How many different amino acids are there?
20
How do you link different amino acids together and what does this do?
H from the amine group and HO from the carboxyl group form H20 and is replaced with a peptide bond, to make a protein. This process is controlled by the DNA.
Type of bond linking amino acids
Peptide
Which elements do all biological compounds contain?
Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen
Which additional compounds to usual biological compounds do amino acids contain?
Nitrogen and sometimes sulphur
What’s the name given to a long chain of amino acids?
Polypeptide
What type of shape to enzyme molecules have and why?
A distinct 3D shape as the polypeptide folds in a very specific way
What’s the name of the molecule that reacts with an enzyme?
A substrate molecule
How do reactions happen with enzymes?
The substrate molecule fits precisely into the active site of the enzyme molecule in order for a reaction to happen. The shape of the active site is complementary to the shape of the substrate molecule.
How does the shape of the active site compare to the shape of the substrate molecule?
The shape of the active site is COMPLEMENTARY, not the same
What is the name of the hypothesis which explains how enzymes work?
Lock and key hypothesis
What is the smallest unit of a protein molecule called?
Amino acid