B I O W H AT A R E

ENZYMES
• What are enzymes? Enzymes: 1. They are biological catalysts made of
protein. They alter the rate of chemical reactions without themselves
being chemically changed at the end of the reaction. • Catalysts are
substances that can change the speed of a chemical reaction. 3.2
Characteristics of enzymes & Factors affecting enzyme activity.
Characteristics of enzymes: 1. They alter or speed up the rates of
chemical reactions that occur in a cell. • They remain unchanged after
a chemical reaction. • They are specific.→"Lock & Key" hypothesis
(One enzyme act on one substrate) • They are affected by temperature.
• They are affected by pH. • They may need other enzymes to work
(Coenzymes). • They catalyse reversible reactions.