Enzymes

In this chapter, we shall learn:

Definitionsrelated to enzymes
Naming of enzymes
Mechanism of enzymatic action
Model of action – Lock and Key model
Properties of enzymes
Use of enzymes in industries.

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enzymetale.swf
 Enzymes
 Enzymes are biological catalysts.
They speed up chemical reactions in
all living things, and allow them to
occur more easily.

 Enzymes are proteins. They are

synthesised from amino acids
 What do enzymes do?

 Someenzymes help to break down large

molecules.

 Othersbuild up large molecules from

small ones.

 While
many others help turn one
molecule into another
 Lock and key hypothesis

Substrate- The molecule on which the enzyme acts; has a shape

complementary to the active site of the enzymes
Active site : The part of the enzyme molecule where the substrate fits in
Enzyme – substrate (ES) complex: The intermediate structure formed
when substrate binds to the active site of an enzyme.
Products _ the compounds formed as a result of enzymatic action.
 How do Enzymes act?
 In an enzyme-catalysed reaction, the substrate first binds to the
active site of the enzyme to form an enzyme-substrate (ES)
complex,
 then the substrate is converted into product while attached to the
enzyme,
 and finally the product is released. This mechanism can be shown
as:


 The enzyme is then free to start again- so it can be reused.

 The end result is the same (SP), but a different route is taken,
so that the S P reaction as such never takes place. In by-passing
this step, the reaction can be made to happen much more quickly.
 Mechanism of enzymatic action
 Enzymes increase
the rate of
metabolic reactions
by decreasing the
activation energy
required to initiate
the reaction.

ah0106-activationenergy01.swf
 Influence of temperature on a human enzyme
 Human enzymes function normally
between 35 °C - 40 °C, but higher
temperatures will break the bonds that
hold them in their particular shape.
 Above this temperature the rate of the
reaction will slow down. 

 At about 60 °C they are completely

destroyed due to denaturation of the
enzyme. This is brought about by
distorting the shape of the active site,
so that it is no more complementary to
the substrate.

 Cold temperatures can also affect

enzymes, making them temporarily
inactive, because their kinetic energy
decreases and fewer collisions occur
with the substrate molecules.

 The optimum temperature for most

human enzyme function is at least 37.5
°C.
Influence of temperature on a
human enzyme
Before Heating After heating
 Influence of pH on enzymatic activity

 Each enzyme has its own range of pH tolerance.

 Most enzymes function optimally around a pH of 7
(neutral)
 Pepsin and rennin function best in an acid medium (in the stomach
where pH is 2).
 Salivary amylase function best in neutral medium (in the mouth where
pH is 7).
 Trypsin functions best in alkaline medium (in the small intestine where
pH is 8.5).
 Beyond the optimum pH value, the enzyme becomes denatured and its
activity decreases.
 Concentration of substrate

 More substrates means more collisions with enzyme

molecules – so more product is formed;
 But when the E:S ratio exceeds 1:1, no further increase
in rate of reaction is observed.
 Concentration of Enzyme
 Same as for concentration of
substrate
Open the URL below for a tutorial t
http://lgfl.skoool.co.uk/key stage4.aspx?id=315

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