1.7: enzymes

How many enzymes are there in the human body?

3000

What is the purpose of an enzyme?

To catalyse a reaction

What is a catalyst?

A substance that speeds up a reaction by lowering the activation energy

What is another name for an enzyme?

A biological catalyst

What are enzymes made up of?

A chain of amino acids folded up to make a protein

What is the active site?

The area which a substrate fits at the start of the reaction

What is special about active sites?

They have a very specific shape to only fit one type of substrate

What can enzymes do to substrates?

Either synthesise larger molecules or break down large molecules into smaller ones