Enzymes

Front

What are enzymes?

Back

Enzymes are proteins that act as biological catalysts, speeding up chemical reactions in living organisms.

Front

What is the role of a catalyst?

Back

A catalyst is a substance that speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process.

Front

What is the active site of an enzyme?

Back

The active site is the specific region of an enzyme where substrate molecules bind and undergo a chemical reaction.

Front

What is a substrate?

Back

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

Front

What happens to enzymes at extreme pH levels?

Back

Extreme pH levels can denature enzymes, altering their structure and rendering them inactive.

Front

What is the optimal temperature for most enzymes?

Back

The optimal temperature for most enzymes is around 37°C (98.6°F), which is the normal body temperature for humans.

Front

How do enzymes lower activation energy?

Back

Enzymes lower activation energy by providing an alternative reaction pathway and stabilizing the transition state.

Front

What is enzyme specificity?

Back

Enzyme specificity refers to the ability of an enzyme to select and catalyze a specific substrate among many possible candidates.

Front

What is denaturation in enzymes?

Back

Denaturation is the process by which an enzyme loses its functional shape due to factors like heat or pH changes.

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, while non-competitive inhibition occurs when an inhibitor binds to a different site, altering enzyme function.