1. Enzyme digesting a molecule
Enzymes
Enzymes

2. Proteins are made of amino acids

3. Small proteins are called polypeptides.
This is because the bond between amino acids is called a peptide bond.

4. Enzyme digesting a molecule
Enzymes
Enzymes are one of the many kinds of proteins that are made by cells. Enzymes are found in every cell, and they speed up chemical reactions inside the cell.
Enzymes
Enzyme digesting a molecule

5. Understanding Enzymes
Activation Energy
(EA)
Every chemical reaction requires energy to get it
started. This energy
is known as the
Activation Energy (EA).

6. Enzymes
Enzymes speed up chemical reactions by lowering the activation energy needed to start a chemical reaction.
Diagram by Fvasconcellos

7. Enzymes
Enzymes speed up chemical reactions without being changed in the process. This means that an enzyme can be used over and over again by the cell.
Before
After

8. Enzymes
Any substance that speeds up a chemical reaction without being permanently changed is known as a catalyst.
There are many different catalysts used by chemists in the lab, but cells always use ENZYMES!

9. Enzymes
The reactants (raw materials) that enzymes start with are called the enzyme’s substrate.
Products
Enzyme-Substrate Complex
The substrates attach to the enzyme at its
active site, then the enzyme directs the reaction.

10. Even the smallest cells have over 1,000 different enzymes inside!
Because the active site is designed to attach to a very specific substrate, cells must have a different enzyme for every chemical reaction!
Even the smallest cells have over 1,000 different enzymes inside!

11. Watch the short video over Enzymes.

12. The Enzyme “The Crime Fighting Catalyst” Speeding Up Your Metabolism
One Chemical Reaction at a Time!