micro phys exam 6 (final)

which molecules carry out all reactions in metabolic pathways?

enzymes

what type of molecule are most enzymes?

proteins

what are ribozymes?

RNA molecules that catalyze reactions

substrates

reactants in enzyme-catalyzed reactions

enzyme active site

region on the enzyme that binds to the substrate and carries out the reaction

during what structure are the amino acids of the active site brought together?

during the tertiary or quaternary structure, the amino acids of the active site are not next to each other during the primary sequence

are all of the 20 amino acids involved in the active sites of enzymes?

no, generally only the polar or charged amino acids

what are the amino acids typically found in the active sites of enzymes?

how does the substrate bind to the to the active site?

by weak hydrogen or ionic bonds to specific amino acids

is substrate binding reversible?

yes, it is readily reversible and not permanent

enzymes have specificity

they are able to differentiate between similar molecules (like cellulase and amylase)

do all enzymes have the same specificity?

no, some are not that specific and they can act on different substrate molecules containing certain functional groups (like carboxypeptidase A)