Module 7: Understanding Enzymes - Nature's Catalysts

Vocabulary flashcards based on Module 7 covering enzyme structure, substrate binding, enzyme specificity, optimal conditions, and examples of digestive enzymes.

Substrate

The substance upon which an enzyme acts.

Catalyst

A substance that speeds up a chemical reaction without being consumed or changed during the reaction.

Coenzymes

Helper molecules, such as vitamins, that attach to an enzyme to assist in its catalytic activity.

Induced Fit

A change in the shape of an enzyme's active site that allows it to bind snugly and react effectively with its substrate.

Amylase

A class or group of digestive enzymes that breaks down starch.

Enzymes

Biological molecules, mostly made of protein, that speed up chemical reactions by lowering the required activation energy.

Activation Energy

The energy required for a chemical reaction to occur, which enzymes lower to accelerate reaction rates.

Active Site

A specially shaped area on an enzyme where specific substrates bind.

Enzyme-Substrate Complex

The intermediate structure formed when a substrate binds to the active site of an enzyme.

Products

The resulting molecules created after an enzyme builds up or breaks down substrates.

Lactase

An enzyme that breaks down lactose, a sugar found in milk, into smaller, digestible parts.

Lactose Intolerance

A condition in which a person does not produce enough lactase, causing them to become sick when consuming lactose.

Lipase

A digestive enzyme that breaks down fats.

Protease

A digestive enzyme that breaks down proteins.

Cofactors

Helpers that assist in enzyme activity by binding to the substrate or active site to enhance catalysis.

Denaturation

The distortion of an enzyme's shape caused by non-ideal pH or temperature conditions, preventing it from binding to its substrate.

Pepsin

A digestive enzyme found in the stomach that breaks down proteins into smaller peptides under acidic conditions.