The Action of Enzymes Flashcards
All 6 cards in this deck
What is the active site of an enzyme?
The region of the enzyme where the substrate binds; its shape is complementary to the substrate.
What is an enzyme–substrate complex?
The structure formed when a substrate binds into the active site of an enzyme.
What are the steps of the lock and key model of enzyme action?
e.g. amylase acting on starch- Substrate binds to the active site: starch enters amylase's active site.
- An enzyme–substrate complex forms and the reaction takes place: starch is broken down.
- Products leave the active site and the enzyme is unchanged: sugars are released.
What is meant by enzyme specificity?
Each enzyme catalyses only one reaction, because only a substrate with a complementary shape fits its active site.
True or false? Any substrate can fit into any enzyme's active site.
False. The substrate must have a shape complementary to the active site, so enzymes are specific.
In the reaction in which catalase breaks down hydrogen peroxide, which molecule is the substrate and what are the products?
Hydrogen peroxide is the substrate; water and oxygen are the products.