Enzymes

Explanation

Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up the rate of chemical reactions in living organisms. They are usually proteins that act on specific substrates, converting them into products. Enzymes are crucial for various physiological processes such as digestion, metabolism, and cellular respiration.

Key Concepts

• Substrate: The specific molecule that an enzyme acts upon.
• Active site: The region on the enzyme where the substrate binds and the reaction takes place.
• Enzyme-substrate complex: The temporary complex formed when an enzyme binds to its substrate.
• Factors affecting enzyme activity: Temperature, pH, substrate concentration, and the presence of inhibitors or activators.
• Enzyme specificity: Each enzyme has a specific substrate and catalyzes a specific reaction.

Study Guide

1. Define enzymes and explain their role as biological catalysts.
2. Describe the structure of an enzyme and the importance of the active site.
3. Explain the process of enzyme-substrate interaction and the formation of the enzyme-substrate complex.
4. Discuss the factors that influence enzyme activity and how they affect enzyme function.
5. Explore the concept of enzyme specificity and provide examples of specific enzyme-substrate interactions.

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