1.4 Enzymes Flashcard

Front

What is denaturation in the context of enzymes?

Back

Denaturation is the process where an enzyme loses its three-dimensional structure due to high temperatures or extreme pH levels, resulting in a loss of function.

Front

What is the role of enzymes in chemical reactions?

Back

Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions by lowering the activation energy required to start the reaction.

Front

What is activation energy?

Back

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

Front

What suffix is commonly found in the names of enzymes?

Back

-ase

Front

How do enzymes affect the rate of a chemical reaction?

Back

Enzymes increase the rate of a chemical reaction by lowering the activation energy.

Front

What happens to enzyme activity at high temperatures?

Back

Enzyme activity declines due to denaturation.

Front

What are the main components of an enzyme?

Back

Enzymes are primarily made of proteins, which are composed of amino acids.

Front

What is the active site of an enzyme?

Back

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

Front

What is a substrate in enzymatic reactions?

Back

A substrate is the reactant molecule upon which an enzyme acts.

Front

What is the effect of pH on enzyme activity?

Back

Each enzyme has an optimal pH range; deviations from this range can lead to decreased activity or denaturation.