AP Biology: Enzymes

Front

What is an enzyme?

Back

A biological catalyst that speeds up chemical reactions in living organisms.

Front

What is the optimum pH for an enzyme?

Back

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

Front

What does a negative Delta G indicate about a reaction?

Back

The reaction releases energy and is spontaneous.

Front

Why are enzymes important in biological systems?

Back

They speed up chemical reactions (catalysts) and are essential for metabolic processes.

Front

What is denaturation in the context of enzymes?

Back

The process by which an enzyme loses its shape and function due to external factors like temperature or pH.

Front

What is the role of Hexokinase?

Back

An enzyme that phosphorylates glucose to form glucose-6-phosphate.

Front

How does temperature affect enzyme activity?

Back

Enzyme activity typically increases with temperature up to a certain point, after which it may decrease due to denaturation.

Front

What is the active site of an enzyme?

Back

The region on the enzyme where substrate molecules bind and undergo a chemical reaction.

Front

What is a substrate in enzymatic reactions?

Back

The reactant molecule upon which an enzyme acts.

Front

What is enzyme specificity?

Back

The ability of an enzyme to choose exact substrate from a group of similar chemical molecules.