BIO 181 – Enzymes

These flashcards cover key concepts related to enzymes, their functions, mechanisms of catalysis, and regulation, essential for understanding metabolic pathways.

Enzyme

A fully folded protein that catalyzes a specific chemical reaction.

Catalyst

A substance that lowers the activation energy of a reaction, thus speeding up the reaction without being consumed.

Active Site

The specific region of an enzyme where substrates bind and undergo a chemical reaction.

Induced Fit

A model of enzyme activity where the active site changes shape slightly to fit the substrate more snugly upon binding.

Cofactors

Non-protein chemical compounds that assist enzymes in catalyzing reactions, such as Zn+ or Mg+.

Coenzymes

Organic non-protein molecules that assist enzymes, such as NAD+.

Competitive Inhibition

A type of enzyme regulation where a molecule similar to the substrate competes for binding to the active site.

Allosteric Regulation

The regulation of an enzyme by binding an effector molecule at a site other than the active site, causing a change in the enzyme's shape.

Feedback Inhibition

A regulatory mechanism where the accumulation of an end product inhibits an earlier step in the pathway.

Transition State

The state during a chemical reaction where reactants are converted into products, often requiring energy to reach.