Enzymes

Front

What are enzymes?

Back

Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions in living organisms. They are primarily made of proteins.

Front

What is the main function of an enzyme?

Back

The main function of an enzyme is to speed up reactions by lowering the activation energy required for the reaction to occur.

Front

What are the building blocks of enzymes?

Back

The building blocks of enzymes are amino acids, which are linked together to form protein structures.

Front

What is an active site?

Back

The active site is the specific region on an enzyme where the substrate binds and the reaction takes place.

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 an enzyme after it catalyzes a reaction?

Back

After catalyzing a reaction, the enzyme remains unchanged and can be used again for subsequent reactions.

Front

What factors can affect enzyme activity?

Back

Factors that can affect enzyme activity include temperature, pH, substrate concentration, and the presence of inhibitors or activators.

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 molecules.

Front

What is an enzyme inhibitor?

Back

An enzyme inhibitor is a substance that decreases or prevents the activity of an enzyme, often by binding to the active site or another part of the enzyme.

Front

What is the difference between competitive and non-competitive inhibitors?

Back

Competitive inhibitors bind to the active site of the enzyme, while non-competitive inhibitors bind to a different site, altering the enzyme's function.