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What are Enzymes? catalyst. The active site is the point at which a
substrate attaches to an enzyme.
Enzymes are proteins that function as The substrate (molecule on which the enzyme
biological catalysts. A catalyst is a substance acts upon) is the key to a lock (the enzyme).
that increases the rate of a chemical reaction and The whole idea of the lock and key mechanism is
is not changed by the reaction. These enzymes known as the lock and key hypothesis derived
are made in living cells and thus are known as by the German scientist Emil Fischer.
biological. From this information, we can state
that: In the presence of the enzyme, the substrate
Enzymes are made in the body to speed up attaches to the enzyme and will either break
reactions that take place in the body without (catabolic) or build up (anabolic) into products.
getting changed or used up. There may be multiple substrates or products or
even 1 of each. The product will separate from
As enzymes are made up of proteins, they will the enzyme. If 2 products are formed (such as
need amino acids as building blocks for them. fatty acids and glycerol broken down from fats by
lipase) the products will also separate from each
Almost all metabolic processes (catabolic – other.
breaking down, and anabolic – building up
processes) require enzymes.
Catabolic Anabolic
Enzymes break complex Enzymes synthesize
substrates to simple complex products from
products simple substrates
These reactions break These reactions build up
down and release energy and use energy
(exothermic) (endothermic)
Respiration is an Photosynthesis is an
example: breaks down a example: takes in energy
complex sugar (glucose) from sunlight and
into simpler compounds produces a complex Enzymes are specific to one particular substrate
and releases energy sugar (glucose) as the enzyme is a complementary shape to the
substrate.
The production of enzymes will be anabolic as
they are built from amino acids in cells. When the substrate moves into the enzyme’s
active site, they become known as the enzyme-
Where are Enzymes Produced? substrate complex. After the reaction has
occurred, the products leave the enzyme’s
All enzymes are produced within cells. Most are active site as they no longer fit it and it is free to
intracellular: work within the cell but some are take up another substrate.
extracellular: released from cells and work
outside these cells (example: digestive enzymes
such as lipase).
Enzyme Action
Temperature:
When the temperature is lower than the
optimum (ideal) temperature, fewer
collisions of enzymes and substrates
occur as there is lesser energy in the
molecules.
As the temperature increases, substrate
molecules move faster and collide with
greater energy, making it more likely for
binding at the active site.
The optimum temperature is where
enzymes work best as most collisions
are successful.
At high temperatures, there is more
energy, but the active site starts to
deform due to vibrations, so fewer
collisions take place (losing ability to
bind). This is called the denaturing of
enzymes.
The optimum temperature for enzymes to work Note that the pH of the enzyme is not 2 (pepsin)
in: or 7.5 (amylase), but it is the best pH it works at.
Humans: 35 to 40°C – below this, works
slow; above this, denaturing takes place.
Plants: 25 to 30°C – below this, works
slow; above this, denaturing takes place.