All About Enzymes
Enzymes
An enzyme is a protein used to speed up the rate of a chemical reaction. Because they regulate the rate of chemical reactions, they are also called catalysts. There are many, many different types of enzymes, because for each chemical reaction that occurs, an enzyme specific to that reaction must be made.
To act on a substrate, an enzyme must contain an active site. The active site is the area on the enzyme that allows the substrate and enzyme to fit together. The amino acids that are present in the active site are linked together in a certain unique order or sequence. The way that enzymes and substrates fit together is often compared to the way a key fits a lock; because the substrate that fits into the active site must have a the exact unique sequence. Once the substrate and enzyme are connected, the enzyme can get to work. During an enzymatic reaction, the substrate is changed during the reaction, and new products are formed during the reaction, but the enzyme comes out of the whole thing unchanged. Then, the enzyme leaves the reaction to form a complex with a different substrate and catalyze another reaction. The products of the reaction continue on in their pathway.
Enzymes are able to catalyze reaction after reaction millions of times before they start to wear out. Then, the body creates more enzymes by synthesizing the proper protein chains from the correct amino acids.
They work best when they are at optimum temperature this is why homeostasis is important to keep our body temperature at a constant 37c as the temperature increases, so does the rate of the chemical reaction. This is because heat energy causes more collisions, with more energy between the enzyme molecules and other molecules. However when the temperature of the reaction is above optimum temperature of the enzyme, the heat energy causes the active site (which is made up of amino acids) to change shape thereby not allowing the substrate molecule to attach this process and cannot
An enzyme is a protein used to speed up the rate of a chemical reaction. Because they regulate the rate of chemical reactions, they are also called catalysts. There are many, many different types of enzymes, because for each chemical reaction that occurs, an enzyme specific to that reaction must be made.
To act on a substrate, an enzyme must contain an active site. The active site is the area on the enzyme that allows the substrate and enzyme to fit together. The amino acids that are present in the active site are linked together in a certain unique order or sequence. The way that enzymes and substrates fit together is often compared to the way a key fits a lock; because the substrate that fits into the active site must have a the exact unique sequence. Once the substrate and enzyme are connected, the enzyme can get to work. During an enzymatic reaction, the substrate is changed during the reaction, and new products are formed during the reaction, but the enzyme comes out of the whole thing unchanged. Then, the enzyme leaves the reaction to form a complex with a different substrate and catalyze another reaction. The products of the reaction continue on in their pathway.
Enzymes are able to catalyze reaction after reaction millions of times before they start to wear out. Then, the body creates more enzymes by synthesizing the proper protein chains from the correct amino acids.
They work best when they are at optimum temperature this is why homeostasis is important to keep our body temperature at a constant 37c as the temperature increases, so does the rate of the chemical reaction. This is because heat energy causes more collisions, with more energy between the enzyme molecules and other molecules. However when the temperature of the reaction is above optimum temperature of the enzyme, the heat energy causes the active site (which is made up of amino acids) to change shape thereby not allowing the substrate molecule to attach this process and cannot