BIOLOGY NOTES:

ENZYMES

 A catalyst is a substance that can alter or speed up a

chemical reaction, without itself being chemically changed
at the end of the reaction.

 E.g., potassium chlorate (VII) naturally breaks down

(decomposes) into potassium chloride and oxygen gas.
This reaction occurs very slowly and at a very high
temperature.

 Gentle heating can only produce potassium chlorate but

not oxygen gas.

 But if we added Manganese (IV) oxide to the melted

substance then the reaction is speeded up and oxygen is
rapidly given off.

 Manganese (IV) oxide allows the reaction to be carried out

at a lower temperature and speeds up the reaction.

 Manganese Oxide is an inorganic catalyst and Inorganic

catalysts are not destroyed by boiling or by changes in the
pH of the solution.

 Carbohydrates, Fats, and Proteins are broken down by

complex apparatus or high temperatures. However, cells
 can carry out the same reactions quite rapidly without
having to raise the body temperature.

 Cells that carry out these functions using catalysts are

called enzymes.

 Enzymes are proteins that function as biological catalysts.

They can alter or speed up chemical reactions. They
remain chemically unchanged at the end of the reaction.

 The energy needed to start a chemical reaction is called

activation energy.

 Enzymes provide an alternative pathway with lower

activation energy required to start a chemical reaction.

 Fat in a peanut seed can be broken down into carbon

dioxide and water.

 Our body’s enzymes, speed up the breakdown of glucose

and fats to carbon dioxide and water at body temp. (37
Degrees Celsius)

 No strong heat or fire is required to start the reaction.

 Digestion is an enzyme-catalyzed process

 Food is digested by digestive enzymes.

 Examples of digestive enzymes:

 Amylase: digests starch to maltose

 Maltase: digests maltose to glucose

 Protease: digests proteins to amino acids

 Lipase: digests fats into fatty acids and glycerol

Enzyme-catalyzed reactions can be classified into:

 Reactions that build up complex substances (anabolic

reactions)

 and reactions that break down complex substances

(catabolic reactions).

Anabolic Reactions:

 Cells build up or synthesize complex substances from

simpler ones. For example, amino acids taken into the cells
can be used to build up proteins. The cytoplasm contains
special enzymes that can catalyze such reactions.
 Catabolic Reactions:

 Cells break down complex substances into simpler

substances for example large molecules in food are
converted into smaller molecules by digestive enzymes. In
cell respiration, glucose is broken down to release energy
and form carbon dioxide and water. This process requires
and involves a series of chemical reactions, each catalyzed
by a different enzyme. The enzymes act together to
completely break down glucose. Hydrogen peroxide is
sometimes produced during chemical reactions in the
cells. This substance is toxic to the cells. Both plants and
animal cells produce the enzyme catalase to break down
hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen, hence removing
the toxic effect. Catalase is especially abundant in the
blood and livers of mammals.

 Enzymes are only produced when needed.

 The name of each enzyme shows the substance on which

the enzyme acts on lipids. And end at ‘ase’.

 Enzymes are classified according to the chemical reactions

they catalyze. Enzymes that catalyze hydrolytic reactions
are known as hydrolases. Digestive enzymes are
hydrolases.

 Carbohydrases that digest carbohydrates

 Proteases that digest proteins

 Lipases that digest fats (lipids)