Biology: Enzymes

Vocabulary flashcards covering the definition, characteristics, examples, and factors affecting enzyme activity.

Enzymes

Sometimes called biological catalysts, these speed up chemical reactions in the cells of all living organisms and remain unchanged during the reaction.

Catalyst

A substance that speeds up a chemical reaction and remains unchanged during the process.

Enzyme Specificity

The principle that enzymes can only act on specific types of substances; they can break down or unite these substances.

Amylase

A specific enzyme that breaks starch (rice) into glucose (sugar).

Substrate

The substance that is specific to the active site of the enzyme to allow a reaction to occur.

Active Site

The specific region of an enzyme that binds with a substrate; its shape is critical to enzyme function.

Low Temperature

A factor affecting enzyme activity where particles move slow and the active site changes shape.

Denature

A state caused by high temperature or wrong $pH$ where the active site changes shape, the substrate can no longer fit, and the reaction stops.