Quick 10Q: Enzymes

Front

What is the role of enzymes in chemical reactions?

Back

Enzymes speed up chemical reactions by lowering the activation energy required for the reaction to occur.

Front

What does delta G represent in a chemical reaction?

Back

Delta G represents the change in free energy during a reaction, indicating whether the reaction is spontaneous or non-spontaneous.

Front

If the delta G of a reaction is 30 kJ/mol, what happens to delta G if the reaction is doubled?

Back

The delta G remains 30 kJ/mol because it is an intrinsic property of the reaction and does not change with the amount of reactants.

Front

What is competitive inhibition in enzyme activity?

Back

Competitive inhibition occurs when a substance competes with the substrate for binding to the active site of the enzyme.

Front

How can competitive inhibition be overcome?

Back

Increasing substrate concentration can help overcome competitive inhibition by outcompeting the inhibitor for the active site.

Front

Can enzymes convert endergonic reactions into exergonic reactions?

Back

No, enzymes cannot change the thermodynamic nature of a reaction; they can only speed up the rate of the reaction.

Front

What is the effect of temperature on enzyme activity?

Back

Temperature affects enzyme activity; each enzyme has an optimal temperature range where it functions best.

Front

What happens to enzyme activity if the enzyme concentration decreases?

Back

If enzyme concentration decreases, the rate of reaction will also decrease, assuming substrate concentration remains constant.

Front

What is the function of an enzyme in biological systems?

Back

The primary function of an enzyme is to catalyze biochemical reactions, increasing the reaction rate.

Front

What is the relationship between substrate concentration and enzyme activity?

Back

As substrate concentration increases, enzyme activity increases until a saturation point is reached, beyond which the rate levels off.