ENZYMES

Enzymes are biological (within living organisms) catalyst (speed up) a chemical
reaction.
Enzymes are specific with the nutrient they digest. The reaction of enzymes with a
nutrient is described as the “Lock and Key Principle/Scenario”. The nutrient is
the lock while the enzyme is the key. The connection of the lock and key gives a
product.
The nutrient is also called the ‘substrate’.
The part of the enzyme where the substrate binds is called the active site (since
that’s where the catalytic “action” happens).
 Environmental effects on Enzymes Function
Because active sites are finely tuned to help a chemical reaction happen,
they can be very sensitive to changes in the enzyme’s environment. Factors that
may affect the active site and enzyme function include:
 Temperature. A higher temperature generally makes for higher rates of
reaction. However, either increasing or decreasing the temperature outside of
a tolerable range can affect chemical bonds in the active site, making them
less well-suited to bind substrates. Very high temperatures (for animal
enzymes, above 40 ∘C )may cause an enzyme to denature, losing its shape
and activity. (Normal body temperature is 37oC 0r 98.7oF).
 pH.  pH can also affect enzyme function. Active site amino acid residues
often have acidic or basic properties that are important for catalysis.
Changes in pH can affect these residues and make it hard for substrates to
bind. Enzymes work best within a certain pH range, and, as with
temperature, extreme pH values (acidic or basic) can make enzymes
denature.

Rate of Reaction in an Enzyme Action

An enzyme will increase and speed up a reaction until it reaches its maximum rate.
The maximum is called the optimum. After reaching its optimum, there is no
further reaction despite the increase in temperature or changes in pH.
 ENZYMES IN THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
SITE ENZYME NUTRIENT PRODUCT
(KEY) (SUBSTRATE) (LOCK)
BUCCAL CAVITY AMYLASE STARCH MALTOSE
(MOUTH)
STOMACH PEPSIN PROTEIN (1) POLYPEPTIDES
(2) PEPTONE
SMALL (1)TRYPSIN PEPTONE PEPTIDES
INTESTINE
(2)PEPTIDASE PEPTIDES/POLYPEPTIDES AMINO ACIDS

(3)MALTASE MALTOSE GLUCOSE

(4)LIPASE FATS/OILS FATTY

ACIDS/GLYCEROL

 All enzymes which digest protein base nutrients are called protease
enzymes: pepsin, trypsin, and peptidase.