Enzyme Functions
What is the main job of an enzyme?
→ To speed up chemical reactions.
What model is used to describe how enzymes and substrates fit together?
→ Lock and key model.
What temperature do most human enzymes work best at?
→ Around 37°C.
Which enzyme breaks down starch into sugars?
→ Amylase.
What enzyme is used in washing powders to remove stains?
→ Protease
Accepted = Lipase, Amylase.
What type of biological molecule is an enzyme?
→ A protein.
Why can each enzyme only act on one type of substrate?
→ Because its active site has a specific shape.
What happens to an enzyme if it gets too hot?
→ It becomes denatured.
Which enzyme breaks down proteins into amino acids?
→ Protease.
What enzyme do people with lactose intolerance lack?
→ Lactase.
What do we call the substance that an enzyme acts on?
→ A substrate.
What would happen if an enzyme’s active site slightly changed shape, but the substrate could still fit and react?
→ The enzyme can still work, but the reaction might be slower or less efficient.
What does “denatured” mean?
→ The enzyme’s shape changes so it can no longer function.
Which enzyme breaks down fats into fatty acids and glycerol?
→ Lipase.
Why do food industries use enzymes like amylase or protease?
→ To speed up reactions and make production more efficient.
What part of the enzyme binds to the substrate?
→ The active site.
What would happen if a substrate didn’t fit an enzyme’s active site?
→ No reaction would occur.
How does pH affect enzyme activity?
→ Each enzyme works best at its optimum pH level, too high or low can denature it.
Which enzyme helps digest lactose in milk?
→ Lactase.
How do enzymes help in washing clothes?
→ They break down stains like oil or food.
What happens to the rate of reaction if there are no enzymes present?
→ The reaction becomes much slower or might not occur at all.
Why can changing one amino acid in an enzyme sometimes make it stop working?
→ It changes the enzyme’s shape, so the substrate no longer fits.
Why do enzymes in the stomach have a different optimum pH from those in the small intestine?
→ Because stomach enzymes work in acid, while intestinal enzymes work in alkaline conditions.
Which enzyme helps break down hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen?
→ Catalase.
Why are enzymes used instead of high heat in many industrial reactions?
→ They save energy by working at lower temperatures.