Pages 48-55 in the course pack Enzymes Pages 48-55 in the course pack

Activation energy

Enzymatic action Enzymes speed up reactions by lowering the activation energy, so more molecules can make it over the “activation energy hump” to react in given amount of time.

Vitamins act as coenzymes to help the enzyme be in the proper shape for the substrate

Without enzymes Activation energy is high, so only a small number of actual reactions will occur.

Enyzme-Substrate complex Substrate: the molecule that the enzyme works upon.

Active site Active site: place on the enzyme where the substrate binds to make the enzyme substrate complex

Catalyst vs. Enzyme Catalysts and enzymes both act to speed up a reaction without themselves being altered. Enzymes are organic catalysts found in living organisms. (Organic = carbon) An example of a catalyst that is not an enzyme is the lining of your catalytic converter in your car that helps to break down exhaust.

Lock and key vs. Induced fit Induced fit: The key needs to be wiggled to work. The enzyme changes its chemistry when the substrate attaches.

Denature Protein changes shape due to change in environmental conditions. ACID BASE HOT SALTY

Optimal enzyme activity

Saturation (Enzyme Kinetics) If a reaction has too few substrate molecules or too few enzymes it will be saturated. If you add the molecules that are limited it will then go faster again.

Catalase and Liver lab

Catalase As cells build up the toxic hydrogen peroxide, we have special parts of our cells known as peroxisomes that release catalase to break it down. Bacteria don’t have these organelles. Liver cells have more peroxisomes that most cells.