Enzymes and Nutrients Lecture Notes

Enzyme

A protein that catalyzes specific chemical reactions without being altered.

Activation Energy

The energy needed to start a chemical reaction.

Enzyme-Substrate Complex

The complex formed when an enzyme binds to its specific substrate.

Lock-Key Model

An analogy to describe how an enzyme's active site and substrate fit together specifically.

Denaturation

The alteration of an enzyme's active site shape due to changes in conditions, preventing it from functioning.

pH Levels

A measure of acidity or alkalinity that can affect enzyme activity.

Coenzymes and Cofactors

Substances that assist enzymes in catalysts by binding to active sites.

Polysaccharides

Long chains of monosaccharides; examples include starch and glycogen.

Amino Acids

The building blocks of proteins, some of which are essential and must be obtained from the diet.

Vitamins

Organic substances essential in small quantities for normal health and often act as coenzymes.

Metabolism

The total of all chemical processes in the body, including anabolic and catabolic reactions.

Anabolic Reactions

Construct complex substances from simpler ones and typically use energy.

Catabolic Reactions

Destructive metabolic processes that break down complex substances into simpler ones, releasing energy.

Cellular Respiration

The metabolic process that converts food into energy in the form of ATP.

ATP

Adenosine triphosphate; the energy currency of the cell.

BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate)

The minimum