Enzyme Notes

[Organic Chemistry Notes] [Fall Semester] [Home]

  1. Metabolism- the sum of all chemical reactions in the body.
    1. Typical chemical reactions in your body:
      1. Breaking bonds b/w atoms of a molecule (ex. digesting foods)
      2. Creating bonds b/w atoms to form molecules (building muscle)
    2. Your body is like a car engine; large amounts of energy (fuel) are needed to make these chemical reactions happen (run).
    3. These reactions can happen slow or fast (slow or fast metabolism).

  2. How Enzymes Work:
    1. Enzymes- proteins that control all chemical reactions in the body. (Most enzyme names end in �-ase�)
    2. Enzymes are biological catalysts.
      1. A catalyst speeds up a chemical reaction without being used up in the process.
    3. Enzymes speed up a chemical reaction by reducing the amount of energy and heat needed for reaction to take place.
      1. Activiation Energy- energy needed to start a chemical reaction (the push start). Enzymes lower activation energy.

  3. Lock and Key model of Enzymes:
    1. Substrate: molecules an enzyme acts on in a chemical reaction.
    2. Active Sites: deep grooves or pockets in the surface of the enzyme where the substrate fits (like a key in a lock).
    3. Specificity: Enzymes are specific, meaning they like a real lock; the active site only fits one kind of molecule (key).
      1. Because there is only one enzyme for one reaction, there are millions of different kinds of enzymes that work in the body; controlling everything from thoughts and sight, to muscle movement.

  4. Factors that affect Enzyme Activity:
    1. Enzymes will change its shape and lose its ability to work when subjected to abnormal temperatures, pH changes, radiation, and some chemicals.
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