enzymenology

What are enzymes?

Enzymes are biological catalysts, typically proteins, that accelerate the rate of specific biochemical reactions without being consumed in the process.

How do enzymes function?

Enzymes function by lowering the activation energy required for a chemical reaction to occur, thereby increasing the reaction rate.

What is an active site?

The active site is a specific region on an enzyme where substrate molecules bind and undergo a chemical reaction.

What is enzyme specificity?

Enzyme specificity refers to the ability of an enzyme to catalyze only one type of reaction or react with only one type of substrate due to the unique shape and chemical properties of its active site (lock-and-key model or induced fit model).

What factors can affect enzyme activity?

Enzyme activity is primarily affected by:

1. Temperature: Optimal temperature maximizes activity; extreme temperatures can cause denaturation.
2. pH: Optimal pH maximizes activity; extreme pH levels can cause denaturation.
3. Substrate concentration: Increased concentration generally increases activity up to a saturation point.
4. Presence of inhibitors or activators: Molecules that can decrease or increase enzyme activity, respectively.