Enzyme Terminologies Quiz

Study Notes

Enzymes are biological catalysts primarily composed of proteins, facilitating biochemical reactions without being consumed.
Inhibition refers to the process that decreases or halts enzyme activity.
Substrates are the specific compounds on which enzymes act to produce products.

Conjugated enzymes consist of a protein (apoenzyme) and an additional non-protein part.
Cofactors, such as minerals (e.g., Zn, Mg), are non-protein components vital for enzyme activity.
Coenzymes are non-protein organic molecules (often B vitamins) that enhance enzyme function.
Prosthetic groups are tightly bound cofactors/coenzymes in the enzyme structure.
Holoenzyme is the complete functioning enzyme formed by the apoenzyme and prosthetic group.

The active site is the specific region where substrates bind and reactions occur.
The enzyme-substrate complex is formed in the first step and is reversible.
The conversion of the enzyme-substrate complex into products regenerates the enzyme.

Bond specificity refers to the enzyme acting on specific bonds in substrates.
Group specificity allows enzymes to target only specific functional groups on molecules.
Substrate specificity indicates that enzymes can act on particular substrate types.
Optical specificity means enzymes can differentiate between isomers, such as L and D amino acids.
Geometrical specificity denotes that enzyme activity depends on the shape of the substrate.
Cofactor specificity highlights that certain enzymes require particular cofactors to function.

Activation refers to processes that increase enzyme activity.
Allosteric sites on enzymes allow for binding of activators or inhibitors to regulate enzymatic activity.
Inhibitors are compounds that slow down or stop enzyme function by binding to the enzyme.

The Lock-and-Key Model posits that enzymes have a rigid active site shape that only fits specific substrate geometries.
Collision Theory explains that reactions require effective collisions between reactants, overcoming activation energy barriers.
Transition State Theory focuses on the transformation of reactants into products through a transient state during the reaction.