1. The cost of life is energy. What does this statement mean?

2. Exploring Biomolecules: Proteins ENZYMES are special proteins. Enzymes help all living organisms “pay the price” of living by CATALYZING (or helping) reactions they need to stay alive. These reactions are called the METABOLISM. Enzymes work to SYNTHESIZE molecules and break them apart.

3. Catalysts: How do they work? For any reaction to happen, a certain amount of energy needs to be present. This is the ACTIVATION ENERGY. As you can see in the graph, enzymes lower the amount of energy needed in a reaction. In other words, they help organisms pay the cost of life.

4. What enzymes look like Enzymes, like all proteins, are made of chains of amino acids that fold up in a 3D pattern. The ACTIVE SITE is the place where the reactants are held in a LOCK AND KEY fit.

6. What can DENATURE a protein? We know that things can break. With that in mind, consider the following: Jello is made from a protein. On a Jello box, it instructs NOT to add fresh or frozen pineapple, kiwi, mango, or figs. Why? Yesterday, we talked about a chart measuring ventillations of a fish. How does temperature (too hot and too cold) affect the function of proteins?

7. Model: Toothpickase Follow instructions, then consider the following: How is this like the lock and key model of enzyme function? How would toothpickase function if you had to break toothpicks with your hands in the Arctic Ocean? Under a broiler? Submerged in a vat of acid? What effect would it have on toothpickase action if there were a high concentration of toothpicks? What if the toothpicks were mixed in with other shards of wood that were NOT toothpicks? Would the reaction be as fast? What does this tell you about the effect of concentration on enzyme function?

8. Final Remarks How does the Kinetic Theory of Matter apply to chemical reactions, assuming that enzymes are not denatured? Remember, the reason it is important to eat proteins is so you body can digest them down to amino acids and make the amino acids into proteins (enzymes) YOU need to stay alive & drive your metabolism.