Enzymes

Front

What is an enzyme?

Back

An enzyme is a biological catalyst that accelerates chemical reactions in living organisms by lowering the activation energy required for the reaction.

Front

What is the primary function of enzymes in biochemical reactions?

Back

The primary function of enzymes is to speed up biochemical reactions by decreasing the activation energy.

Front

What does the term 'activation energy' refer to?

Back

Activation energy is the minimum amount of energy required to initiate a chemical reaction.

Front

What is the Lock & Key Model in enzyme action?

Back

The Lock & Key Model describes how enzymes and substrates fit together specifically, like a key fits into a lock, ensuring that only specific substrates can bind to a particular enzyme.

Front

What is the significance of the enzyme-substrate complex?

Back

The enzyme-substrate complex is a temporary molecule formed when an enzyme binds to its substrate, facilitating the conversion of substrates into products.

Front

What is a common misconception about enzymes?

Back

A common misconception is that enzymes can only be used once in a chemical reaction; in reality, enzymes can be reused multiple times.

Front

What role do proteases play in digestion?

Back

Proteases are enzymes that break down proteins into smaller peptides or amino acids, aiding in digestion, especially in individuals with underdeveloped digestive systems.

Front

How do temperature and pH affect enzyme activity?

Back

Enzyme activity is influenced by temperature and pH; each enzyme has an optimal temperature and pH range where it functions best, and deviations can lead to decreased activity or denaturation.

Front

What is enzyme denaturation?

Back

Enzyme denaturation is the process in which an enzyme loses its three-dimensional structure and, consequently, its functionality due to extreme conditions such as high temperature or extreme pH.

Front

What is the difference between competitive and non-competitive inhibition?

Back

Competitive inhibition occurs when an inhibitor competes with the substrate for the active site of the enzyme, while non-competitive inhibition occurs when an inhibitor binds to a different part of the enzyme, altering its function without competing for the active site.