ENZYMES

A FAMILY OF IMPORTANT BIOLOGICAL MOLECULES

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What are enzymes?

Enzymes are protein molecules made by living things. Scientists can also make synthetic enzymes.

ENZYME structure.

Enzymes are proteins or chains of amino acids. The chains are twisted and different sections form bonds. This gives them a 3-D structure.

ENZYME FUNCTION
Enzymes are called catalysts, which means they make chemical reactions occur faster. Many reactions in our body would happen too slowly without them. Enzymes attach to one of the chemicals in a reaction (called the substrate). Enzymes can only attach to one substrate. Therefore, enzymes are specific.

ENZYME FUNCTION
Enzymes have a site that binds to the substrate (called the active site). This fits the substrate like a KEY fits a LOCK.
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ENZYME FUNCTION
Enzymes can either break down large molecules into smaller ones, or join smaller molecules to make large ones.

ENZYME FUNCTION
This enzyme/ substrate complex (combination) allows bonds in the chemicals to break or form together. This changes the chemicals in the reaction to new ones called products. Two models of enzyme action
Here the substrates are matched up with the active site

Here the substrates are forced to fit into the active site

In both of these examples the substrates are joining together to make the product.
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ENZYME FUNCTION
Enzymes speed up chemical reactions because they lower activation energy by straining bonds. Activation energy is the amount of energy required for a chemical reaction to happen.
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Activation energy

An example from your body...

This is a common DIGESTIVE enzyme called SUCRASE. In this reaction, what is the substrate? What about the products?
Note: In this example, the substrate breaks apart to form two smaller products.
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An example from industry...

Cellulase is an enzyme used in Bio-Stonewashing. The process of making clothing look more worn.

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