Enzyme Basics
What are enzymes?
Proteins that speed up chemical reactions.
How do enzymes speed up reactions?
By lowering activation energy.
What enzyme breaks down starch into sugar?
Amylase.
What happens to enzymes when the temperature is too high?
They denature.
What enzyme is used in laundry detergents to break down stains?
Protease.
What type of biomolecule are enzymes?
Proteins.
What model explains how enzymes fit their substrates perfectly?
The Lock-and-Key Model
What enzyme breaks down proteins in the stomach?
Pepsin.
How does pH affect enzyme activity?
Each enzyme has an optimal pH, and extreme pH levels can denature them.
What enzyme is used in the dairy industry to remove lactose from milk?
Lactase.
What is the name of the molecule that enzymes act on?
Substrate.
What alternative model suggests enzymes change shape slightly to fit the substrate?
The Induced Fit Model.
What enzyme breaks down lactose?
Lactase.
What happens when a competitive inhibitor is present?
It binds to the active site, blocking the substrate.
What enzyme is used in brewing to convert starch into sugar?
Amylase.
What is the region on the enzyme where the substrate binds?
The active site.
What happens to the reaction rate when enzyme concentration increases?
It increases, up to a limit where substrates become the limiting factor.
Which enzyme speeds up the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen?
Catalase.
What is a non-competitive inhibitor?
A molecule that binds away from the active site, changing the enzyme’s shape.
How are restriction enzymes used in DNA technology?
They cut DNA at specific sequences for genetic research.
What is the term for the enzyme’s ability to work only with specific substrates?
Enzyme specificity.
What are coenzymes and cofactors?
Coenzymes (organic molecules) and cofactors (inorganic molecules) help enzymes function.
Which enzyme is used in DNA replication?
DNA Polymerase.
Why do enzymes stop working at extreme temperatures?
High heat breaks hydrogen bonds, altering the enzyme’s shape.
What is an example of an enzyme-based medical test?
Blood glucose test using glucose oxidase.