Enzymes

Front

What is an enzyme?

Back

An enzyme is a biological catalyst that speeds up chemical reactions in living organisms without being consumed in the process.

Front

What does it mean for an enzyme to be specific?

Back

It means that an enzyme can only catalyze a reaction with a particular substrate, not just any molecule.

Front

What is the lock-and-key model of enzyme action?

Back

The lock-and-key model describes how a substrate fits precisely into the active site of an enzyme, similar to how a key fits into a lock.

Front

What is the active site of an enzyme?

Back

The active site is the region on the enzyme where the substrate binds and the reaction occurs.

Front

What is a substrate?

Back

A substrate is the reactant molecule that an enzyme acts upon during a chemical reaction.

Front

Why are enzymes important for life?

Back

Enzymes are crucial because they speed up all the chemical reactions necessary for life, allowing processes to occur at a rate that sustains life.

Front

What is protease?

Back

Protease is an enzyme that breaks down proteins into smaller peptides or amino acids.

Front

What factors can affect enzyme activity?

Back

Factors include temperature, pH, substrate concentration, and the presence of inhibitors or activators.

Front

What is an enzyme inhibitor?

Back

An enzyme inhibitor is a substance that decreases the activity of an enzyme by binding to it and preventing substrate binding.

Front

What is enzyme activation?

Back

Enzyme activation refers to the process of increasing the activity of an enzyme, often through the binding of an activator.