What is the effect of increasing substrate concentration on enzyme activity (up to saturation)?
Increases the reaction rate up to a saturation point.
What is the effect of extreme temperature or pH on enzyme activity?
Can lead to denaturation, causing the enzyme to lose its shape and function.
What happens when a competitive inhibitor is added to an enzyme reaction?
The reaction rate decreases because the inhibitor blocks the active site.
What happens when a noncompetitive inhibitor binds to an enzyme?
The enzyme's shape changes, reducing its activity.
What are the steps of enzyme catalysis?
1. Enzyme and substrate bind, forming an enzyme-substrate complex. 2. Enzyme lowers the activation energy. 3. Reaction proceeds, forming product. 4. Product is released, and the enzyme is free to catalyze another reaction.
What is the definition of metabolism?
The constant activity happening at the molecular level, including processes like growth and reproduction.
What is a catalyst?
A substance that speeds up a chemical reaction by lowering the activation energy.
What is the definition of activation energy?
The energy required to start a chemical reaction.
What is an enzyme?
A biological catalyst that speeds up reactions in cells by lowering activation energy. They are highly specific.
What is a substrate?
The reactant on which an enzyme acts.
What is an enzyme-substrate complex?
An intermediate complex formed when an enzyme binds to its substrate, which is more reactive than the substrate alone.
What is a competitive inhibitor?
A substance that binds to the active site of an enzyme, blocking substrate binding.
What is a noncompetitive inhibitor?
A substance that binds to a part of the enzyme other than the active site, changing its shape and reducing its activity.
Define enzyme denaturation.
The process by which an enzyme loses its specific three-dimensional structure, often due to extreme temperature or pH, resulting in loss of function.
