Macromolecules
Name the 4 major macromolecules.
Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, and Nucleic acids.
Why is protein shape important?
It determines function, allows enzyme activity, and helps bind substrates.
What do enzymes do?
Speed up reactions, lower activation energy, and act as catalysts.
If enzyme activity increases then drops at high temperature, why?
The enzyme was denatured causing its shape to change and destroy its active site.
Why do athletes eat carbohydrates before a game?
Quick energy, easily broken down, provides glucose, and fuels muscles.
What are the building blocks (monomers) ?
Monosaccharides, fatty acids & glycerol, amino acids, and nucleotides
What happens when a protein denatures?
Loses shape, stops working, and active site changes.
What are 3 factors that affect enzymes?
Temperature, pH, and substrate concentration
What is the independent variable is an enzyme experiment?
What is changed, and isn't influenced by a factor. Examples: temperature, pH, and substrate.
Why is body temperature important for enzyme function?
Enzymes work best at optimal forces. If its too the enzymes denature and if too cold the reactions become slower.
What elements are found in proteins?
Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, and Nitrogen (CHON).
Why are lipids good for long-term energy?
What is the active site?
Where the substrate binds, part of enzyme, and site of reaction.
What is the dependent variable?
The reaction rate, is influenced/dependent by a factor. Examples: product formed in an experiment.
Why can a high fever be dangerous to the body?
Enzymes denature, proteins lose shape, reactions stop working properly, and body system fails.
Why are carbohydrates a quick source of energy?
Easily broken down because of it's ring structure.
What would happen if the shape of an enzyme's active site changes?
The substrate will not be able to bind, the reaction will become slower and/or stop, enzyme loses its function, and the specificity is lost.
Why does enzyme activity decrease at extremely high temperatures?
Enzyme denatures, bonds break, shape changes, and active site is no longer fitting for the substrate.
Give an example of a control group.
Room temperature, neutral pH, and normal conditions.
Why do changes in pH in the stomach affect digestion?
Enzymes need a specific pH, it can affect their shape. It can change the active site and reduce efficiency.
How does the structure of nucleic acids allow them to store genetic information?
It has a double helix structure, the order of the nucleotides carries the genetic information, and base pairing rules.
How can a mutation in DNA affect the structure and function of a protein?
Changes in nucleotide sequence, alters amino acid sequence, changes folding/shape, and affects the function or stops function.
Why does increasing substrate concentration eventually stop increasing reaction rate?
The enzyme becomes saturated, all the active sites are filled, maximum rate has been reached, and no more enzymes are available.
What happens if the substrate concentration keeps increasing?
The reaction will increase and enzymes become saturated
A person can't digest properly a certain amount of nutrients due to an enzyme issue. What is most likely the cause?
The enzyme structure might have changed, the active site must not match the substrate. There has been a genetic mutation, or the enzyme is not produced or not functioning.