enzyme review

Front

What is an enzyme?

Back

A protein that acts as a catalyst to speed up chemical reactions in biological processes.

Front

What is the active site of an enzyme?

Back

The specific region on the enzyme where substrates bind and undergo a chemical reaction.

Front

What is a substrate?

Back

The reactant molecule that an enzyme acts upon.

Front

What does it mean to lower activation energy?

Back

Enzymes reduce the energy required to start a chemical reaction, allowing it to occur more easily.

Front

What is the enzyme-substrate complex?

Back

The temporary complex formed when an enzyme binds to its substrate.

Front

What is the lock and key model?

Back

A model that explains how enzymes and substrates fit together perfectly, like a key fits into a lock.

Front

What factors affect enzyme activity?

Back

Temperature, pH, substrate concentration, and enzyme concentration.

Front

What is optimum pH?

Back

The pH at which an enzyme's activity is at its maximum.

Front

How does temperature affect enzyme activity?

Back

Increased temperature generally increases enzyme activity up to a certain point, after which the enzyme may denature.

Front

What is denaturation?

Back

The process in which an enzyme loses its shape and functionality due to extreme conditions.