Enzyme Notes

• Catalyst—substance that speeds up chem reaction

• Enzymes act like bio catalysts that speed up chem reactions in other cells
• Enzymes lower activation energy
• Bloodstream has enzyme called carbonic anhydrase that speeds up reaction
by factor of 10 mill
• For chem reaction to take place, reactants collide with enough energy so
existing bonds will be broken and new ones will be formed; if reactants don’t
have enough energy, they’ll be unchanged after collision
• Substrates—reactants of enzyme-catalyzed reactions
• During enzyme reaction, substrates bind to site on enzyme called active site;
active site and substrates have complementary shapes
• Fit is so precise that its often compared to lock/key
• Enzymes and substrates are bound by intermolecular forces and form
enzyme-substrate complex; which stay bound together until reaction is done
• Once reaction is over, process is repeated
• Enzymes are influenced by diff variables; they work best at certain pH values
and temps
• Enzymes made by human cells work best at 37°C, the normal temp of human
body
• Cells regulate enzymes in many ways; most cells have proteins that turn key
enzymes on/off at critical stages in the life of cell
• Enzymes play important roles in regulating chem pathways, making materials
cells need, releasing energy, transferring info