The Action of Enzymes Flashcards

All 5 cards in this deck

What is the active site of an enzyme?

The part of the enzyme where the substrate binds.

What is the name of the model used to describe how an enzyme binds its substrate?

The lock-and-key model.

What is formed when a substrate binds to the active site of an enzyme?

An enzyme-substrate complex.

Why is an enzyme specific to only one substrate?

Its active site is complementary in shape to only that substrate; other substrates do not fit.

What is a substrate?

The molecule an enzyme acts on: it binds to the enzyme's active site and is changed in the reaction.