Properties and Regulation of Enzymes

This set of flashcards covers essential vocabulary and concepts related to enzymes, their function, and regulation in biochemical processes.

Enzyme

A macromolecule that catalyzes chemical reactions in biological systems.

Cofactor

A non-protein chemical compound that is required for the biological activity of a protein, often participating in the catalytic process.

Active Site

The region of an enzyme where substrate molecules bind and undergo a chemical reaction.

Substrate

A reactant molecule that fits into the active site of an enzyme.

Enzyme-Substrate Complex

The intermediate formed when an enzyme binds to its substrate.

Kofaktor

A helper molecule or ion necessary for some enzymes to function.

Coenzyme

A specific type of cofactor that is an organic molecule, often derived from vitamins.

Holoenzyme

An active enzyme that requires a cofactor to function.

Apoenzyme

An inactive enzyme without its cofactor.

Catalyst

A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process.

Reaction Rate

The speed at which reactants are converted into products in a chemical reaction.

Allosteric Regulation

Regulation of an enzyme's activity through the binding of an effector molecule at a site other than the active site, causing conformational changes.

Induced Fit Model

A model describing the way the active site of an enzyme molds itself around the substrate upon binding.

Feedback Inhibition

A regulatory mechanism whereby the end product of a metabolic pathway inhibits an enzyme involved in its synthesis.

Vitamins

Essential organic compounds required for normal growth and metabolic processes, often serving as coenzymes.

Lock and Key Model

A simplistic model for enzyme-substrate binding which suggests that the active site is exactly shaped to fit the substrate.

Activation Energy

The energy required to initiate a chemical reaction.

Denaturation

A process where proteins lose their structure and function due to external stress, like high temperature or extreme pH.

Enzyme Specificity

The ability of an enzyme to choose exact substrate from a group of similar chemical molecules.

Katalytisk Prosess

The process by which a catalyst increases the rate of a chemical reaction.