2.11 Enzymes

This set of flashcards covers key concepts related to how plants and animals build biomass, the role of enzymes in biochemical reactions, and factors influencing enzyme activity.

What is the most abundant polymer on earth?

Cellulose

What plant cell structure does cellulose build?

Cell walls

What is cellulose made of?

Long chains of glucose molecules

What is the role of the enzyme cellulose synthase?

To catalyze the formation of cellulose from glucose

What functions do cellulose molecules serve in plant cells?

An outer coat gives plant cells structure and support, enabling them to form and hold their shape.

How do enzymes affect the speed of chemical reactions?

Enzymes increase the speed of reactions.

How do enzymes impact the activation energy required for chemical reactions?

Enzymes decrease the activation energy needed.

What does the term 'catalyzed' mean regarding enzymes?

It means the reaction speed is increased and less energy is needed to start the reaction.

Why is the lock and key analogy used to describe enzymes?

It describes how enzymes (keys) are specific to substrates (locks) and fit only with certain ones.

What happens to enzymes when they are denatured?

The active site of the enzyme deforms, preventing it from binding to its substrate effectively. This loss of shape leads to a reduction in enzyme activity and may result in complete inactivity.

What environmental factors can influence enzyme activity?

Abnormally high temperature and pH

What effect does a temperature decrease below an enzyme's optimal range have?

Slower molecular movement leads to a decrease in enzyme activity and reaction rate.

What is the role of digestive enzymes?

They catalyze the breakdown of large food molecules into smaller molecules.

Enzymes are general or specific in their action?

Enzymes are specific, meaning one enzyme works with only one substrate.

If the substrate concentration continues to increase but the number of enzymes remains the same, what would this graph look like?

Reaction rate would level off / plateau.

If the substrate concentration continues to increase, what would allow the reaction rate to continue to increase as well?

Increasing the amount of enzymes would allow more substrate to be converted to product, thus raising the reaction rate.

What is activation energy?

The minimum energy required for a chemical reaction to occur, enabling substrates to convert into products.

Line A represents a chemical reaction _?_ , and Line B represents a chemical reaction _?_ .

with enzyme … without enzyme

True or False: Enzymes can be used to bond multiple substrates together into one larger product.

True

True or False: Enzymes can be used to break a substrate molecule into multiple smaller products.

True

What role do enzymes play in the formation of the cell wall?

Enzymes help bond individual glucose molecules into long chains of cellulose to form the cell wall structure, providing strength and stability.

What role do enzymes play in the digestion of food?

Enzymes break down larger food molecules into smaller molecules, aiding in absorption and digestion.

What is A?

Substrate(s)

What is B?

Active site

What is C?

Enzyme

What is D?

Product(s)