12 Questions
What is the primary function of enzymes in living organisms?
To speed up chemical reactions
What is the term for the specific region on an enzyme that binds to the substrate?
Active site
What is the term for the process by which an enzyme undergoes a conformation change to position the substrate for reaction?
Conformation change
What type of enzyme catalyzes the hydrolysis of molecules?
Hydrolases
What is the term for the process by which the product of a reaction inhibits an earlier step in the pathway?
Feedback inhibition
What is the term for the binding of molecules to allosteric sites, affecting enzyme activity?
Allosteric regulation
What is the main function of the mitochondria in a cell?
Generating energy for the cell
What is the purpose of the Golgi apparatus in a cell?
Protein modification, sorting, and packaging
What is the term for the jelly-like substance inside the cell where metabolic processes take place?
Cytoplasm
What is the function of enzymes in chemical reactions?
To speed up chemical reactions
What is the characteristic of enzymes that allows them to bind only to specific substrates?
Specificity
What is the term for the molecule that binds to the active site of an enzyme, allowing the reaction to take place?
Substrate
Study Notes
Enzymes
Definition
- Biological molecules, typically proteins, that speed up chemical reactions in living organisms
- Not consumed or altered in the reaction, allowing them to catalyze multiple reactions
Characteristics
- High specificity: Each enzyme is specific to a particular reaction or substrate
- Optimum pH and temperature: Enzymes work best within a specific pH and temperature range
- Activation energy: Enzymes reduce the energy required for a reaction to occur
Mechanism of Action
- Active site: A specific region on the enzyme that binds to the substrate
- Substrate binding: The substrate fits into the active site, forming an enzyme-substrate complex
- Conformation change: The enzyme undergoes a conformation change, positioning the substrate for reaction
- Product formation: The reaction occurs, and the product is released
Types of Enzymes
- Oxidoreductases: Catalyze oxidation and reduction reactions
- Transferases: Facilitate the transfer of functional groups between molecules
- Hydrolases: Catalyze the hydrolysis of molecules
- Ligases: Form covalent bonds between molecules
- Isomerases: Catalyze the rearrangement of molecular structures
- Lyases: Catalyze the cleavage of molecules without hydrolysis
Inhibition and Regulation
- Competitive inhibition: Inhibitor binds to the active site, preventing substrate binding
- Non-competitive inhibition: Inhibitor binds to an allosteric site, altering the enzyme's shape
- Allosteric regulation: The binding of molecules to allosteric sites affects enzyme activity
- Feedback inhibition: The product of a reaction inhibits an earlier step in the pathway
Learn about enzymes, biological molecules that speed up chemical reactions in living organisms. Understand their definition, characteristics, mechanism of action, types, and regulation. Test your knowledge with this quiz!
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