Biology: Enzyme Action and Reaction Types

Study Notes

Enzyme Action

Enzymes are biological molecules, primarily proteins, that speed up chemical reactions.
Enzymes lower the activation energy needed for reactions to occur.
The part of the enzyme that interacts with the reactant is the active site.
The rest of the enzyme helps with the "hug," or binding, of the reactant.
Enzymes are crucial for many biological processes.
Activation energy is the minimum amount of energy required for a chemical reaction to occur.
Enzymes lower activation energy by providing an alternative reaction pathway.
Enzymes are specific to the reactions they catalyze.
The shape of the active site is essential for the enzyme's function.
The structure of the enzyme can affect its efficiency and specificity.

Reaction Types

Exergonic reactions release energy (products have less energy than reactants).
Endergonic reactions require energy input (products have more energy than reactants).
Spontaneous reactions occur without extra input of energy.
Non-spontaneous reactions require input of energy to occur.
Activation energy is affected by enzymes. Enzymes lower the amount of energy needed to start the reaction.

Macromolecules

Carbohydrates: Monosaccharides (e.g., glucose), used for short-term energy storage and structure (e.g., cellulose).
Lipids: Fatty acids, used for long-term energy storage, insulation, and membrane structure (e.g., phospholipids).
Proteins: Amino acids, involved in structure, transport, defense, and catalysis (e.g., enzymes, hemoglobin).
Nucleic acids: Nucleotides (e.g., adenine, thymine), used to store and transmit genetic information (e.g., DNA, RNA).
Monomers are the building blocks of polymers.
Polymers are large molecules formed from repeating monomers.
Dehydration synthesis forms polymers from monomers by removing water.
Hydrolysis breaks polymers down into monomers by adding water.

Protein Structure

Proteins have four levels of structure: primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary.
Primary structure is the sequence of amino acids.
Secondary structure is the folding of the polypeptide chain (e.g., alpha-helices, beta-sheets).
Tertiary structure is the overall 3D shape of the protein.
Quaternary structure describes the arrangement of multiple polypeptide subunits.

Description

This quiz explores the functions of enzymes, their role in lowering activation energy, and the different types of chemical reactions such as exergonic and endergonic reactions. Test your understanding of how enzymes facilitate biological processes and influence reaction pathways.