Enzymes in Biology

What are Enzymes?

• Biological molecules, typically proteins, that speed up chemical reactions
• Act as catalysts, increasing reaction rates without being consumed or altered

Characteristics of Enzymes

• High specificity: Each enzyme is specific to a particular reaction or substrate
• High efficiency: Enzymes can catalyze thousands of reactions per second
• Optimal temperature and pH: Enzymes have optimal temperatures and pH ranges for activity

Enzyme Structure

• Active site: Region on the enzyme where the substrate binds
• Substrate binding: Enzyme-substrate complex forms, allowing the reaction to occur
• Conformation change: Enzyme changes shape to facilitate the reaction

Enzyme Mechanisms

• Lock and key model: Substrate fits into the active site, inducing a conformation change
• Induced fit model: Enzyme changes shape to accommodate the substrate
• Cooperative binding: Binding of one substrate molecule affects the binding of others

Types of Enzymes

• Oxidoreductases: Catalyze oxidation and reduction reactions
• Transferases: Catalyze the transfer of functional groups
• Hydrolases: Catalyze the hydrolysis of molecules
• Ligases: Catalyze the formation of new bonds
• Isomerases: Catalyze the rearrangement of molecules
• Lyases: Catalyze the cleavage of molecules

Factors Affecting Enzyme Activity

• Temperature: Optimal temperature ranges for enzyme activity
• pH: Optimal pH ranges for enzyme activity
• Substrate concentration: Increasing substrate concentration can increase enzyme activity
• Inhibitors: Molecules that bind to the enzyme, reducing its activity
• Activators: Molecules that increase enzyme activity

What are Enzymes?

• Biological molecules, typically proteins, that speed up chemical reactions without being consumed or altered
• Act as catalysts, increasing reaction rates

Characteristics of Enzymes

• Each enzyme is specific to a particular reaction or substrate (high specificity)
• Enzymes can catalyze thousands of reactions per second (high efficiency)
• Enzymes have optimal temperatures and pH ranges for activity

Enzyme Structure

• Enzymes have an active site where the substrate binds
• Enzyme-substrate complex forms, allowing the reaction to occur
• Enzyme changes shape to facilitate the reaction (conformation change)

Enzyme Mechanisms

• Lock and key model: Substrate fits into the active site, inducing a conformation change
• Induced fit model: Enzyme changes shape to accommodate the substrate
• Cooperative binding: Binding of one substrate molecule affects the binding of others

Types of Enzymes

• Oxidoreductases: Catalyze oxidation and reduction reactions
• Transferases: Catalyze the transfer of functional groups
• Hydrolases: Catalyze the hydrolysis of molecules
• Ligases: Catalyze the formation of new bonds
• Isomerases: Catalyze the rearrangement of molecules
• Lyases: Catalyze the cleavage of molecules

Factors Affecting Enzyme Activity

• Temperature: Optimal temperature ranges for enzyme activity
• pH: Optimal pH ranges for enzyme activity
• Substrate concentration: Increasing substrate concentration can increase enzyme activity
• Inhibitors: Molecules that bind to the enzyme, reducing its activity
• Activators: Molecules that increase enzyme activity