Enzymes
It’s all about speeding things up!
Define the term catalyst and enzyme.
Lesson
Objectives Describe the roles of enzymes in catalysing reactions in living cells.
Describe enzyme action with reference to the active site, substrate,
enzyme-substrate complex and product.
State the factors that affect the rate of an enzyme controlled reac-
tion.
Describe the effect of the factors on the rate of an enzyme con-
trolled reaction.
Catalysts and Enzymes
A catalyst is a substance that increases the rate of a
chemical reaction and is not changed by the reaction.
An enzyme is a protein that functions as a biological
catalyst.
Important definitions
A substance produced by a living organism,
which acts as a catalyst to aid in biochemical
reactions.
The molecules that are produced
Enzyme after an enzymatic reaction
(a reaction that needs enzymes)
Substrate Product
The substance on which an enzyme acts on
Enzyme
Substrate Product
HOW DO ENZYMES WORK?
Enzyme reactions can be ANABOLIC (building up)
or CATABOLIC (breaking down).
Enzymes can only work with SPECIFIC
SUBSTRATES . Scientists call this the LOCK and
KEY model.
The “Lock” part of the model is an area on the
Enzyme called the ACTIVE SITE.
Anabolic reaction
eg. starch phosphorylase builds starch molecules from glucose molecules, photosynthesis If the enzyme’s active site is the “Lock”, then the
SUBSTRATE acts as the “Key”
When the substrate molecules have a
COMPLEMENTARY SHAPE (matching shape) to a
SPECIFIC active site on an enzyme… it will BIND to
the active site to form an “ENZYME-SUBSTRATE
COMPLEX”
Once it does this, the enzymatic reaction can take
place, and the PRODUCT(S) is formed
Catabolic reaction
eg. Enzymes involved in digestion, cellular respiration
Naming of enzymes
Enzymes are named according to the reaction that they catalyse.
(If they break down “something” or put “something” together…the enzyme name will USUALLY be
“something-ase”… FOR EXAMPLE):
Lipases – a group of enzymes that help digest fats (lipids) in the gut.
Carbohydrases helps break down carbohydrates:
Sucrase – breaks down sucrose into fructose and glucose.
Lactase – also found in the small intestine, breaks lactose, the sugar in milk, into
glucose and galactose.
Amylase – helps change starches into sugars. Amylase is found in saliva.
Helicase – unravels DNA.
DNA polymerase – synthesize DNA from deoxyribonucleotides.
There are a FEW enzymes do not end with “-ase” like pepsin or trypsin which helps to
break down proteins. Because of this these enzymes are classified as PROTEASES.
Example Question
Explain how does The enzyme Sucrace
work?
Example Answer:
The substrate molecule (sucrose) slots
into the active site, forming an
‘enzyme-substrate complex’
Each enzyme has an ACTIVE SITE
into which its substrate molecule fits
exactly/perfectly
The sucrose is split/converted into
glucose and fructose molecules. The
products (glucose and fructose) leave
the active site of the enzyme.
After the reaction, the enzyme is
UNALTERED/UNCHANGED and ready Enzymes chemically
to accept another part of the sucrose recognize, bind and
molecule. modify substrates
Lock and key mechanism summary
FACTORS THAT AFFECT ENZYME ACTIVITY
Enzymes need an OPTIMAL environment (Best environment) in
order to function properly
In an optimal environment the enzyme’s activity will increase.
In some “harsh” environments the enzyme may STOP working
completely due to DENATURATION (When a protein
permanently changes shape).
When an enzyme denatures its active site changes shape and
cannot be used anymore.
The factors that help to create an optimal environment for
enzymes are:
1. Optimal Temperature
2. Optimal pH
3. Optimal Concentration of enzymes/substrates
The effect of temperature on enzyme activity
A rise in temperature will increase
Heat energy causes more collision the rate of most reactions
between enzyme and substrate
(because of higher kinetic energy,
higher tendency for enzymes to
bump into substrates),
A fall in temperature slows
reactions down but the enzyme
can still function.
The temperature at which the rate
of reaction is fastest is known as
the OPTIMUM TEMPERATURE
However, after the optimum
temperature the heat causes the
enzyme to DENATURE.
The effect of pH on digestive enzymes
Most enzymes work best at neutral
conditions (pH 7)
Extreme pH (like pH 1 or pH14) will
pH 2 pH 7 pH 8 cause DENATURATION of the enzyme,
Stomach Duodenum
Some enzymes can work best in
ACIDIC environments while other
enzymes work best in BASIC
environments
The OPTIMAL pH of an enzyme means
that it has the highest enzyme activity at
that pH.
If the pH is too high or too low the
enzyme will DENATURE.
Content Here
Simple Portfolio
Designed
Balance of enzymes and substrates
Therefore the OPTIMAL concentration of enzymes and substrates
is when there is a balanced number of both.
Section Break
Insert the Sub Tittle of Your Presentation
Summary of Enzymes
Enzymes are Enzymes work
All enzymes are
deactivated at best at a particular
proteins
high temperature temperature
Some enzymes digest proteins They are protein molecules The optimum temperature for
which are damaged by heat enzymatic functions is at about
37 ℃ (body temperature).
Enzymes work
Enzymes are Enzymes are
best at a
catalysts highly specific
particular pH
Some enzymes work best They are not changed in the Each type of enzyme can only
in acidic conditions, others chemical reactions that they control. catalyse a particular substrate/
work best in neutral or They can be used over and over a kind of chemical reaction
alkaline conditions again (not used up). Only a small
amount is needed to change a lot of
substrate into products.
