Enzyme Structure and Components

Study Notes

Temperature:
- Optimal range: Enzymes function best at a specific temperature range
- High temperature: Increases activity up to a point, but extreme heat denatures enzymes
- Low temperature: Slows down enzyme activity without causing denaturation
pH:
- Optimal pH: Each enzyme has an optimal pH where it is most active
- Deviation: Changes in pH can alter enzyme structure and function, potentially leading to denaturation
Substrate Concentration:
- Low concentration: Increasing substrate levels boost enzyme activity
- Saturation point: Beyond a certain concentration, enzyme activity plateaus as all active sites are occupied

Competitive Inhibitors: Compete with the substrate for the active site; effect can be reduced by increasing substrate concentration
Non-Competitive Inhibitors: Bind elsewhere on the enzyme, changing its shape and reducing activity
Uncompetitive Inhibitors: Bind only to the enzyme-substrate complex, lowering both the reaction rate and substrate affinity
Allosteric Inhibitors: Bind to an allosteric site, causing conformational changes that decrease enzyme activity

Metabolism: The sum of the chemical reactions in an organism
Catabolism: Provides energy and building blocks for anabolism; involves degradative reactions that are generally hydrolytic, exergonic, and provide energy and building blocks
Anabolism: Uses energy and building blocks to build large molecules; involves biosynthetic reactions that are generally dehydration synthesis, endergonic, and require energy