CHAPTER 4

Enzymes
Chapter Enzymes
4

4.1 Enzymes are Biological Catalysts

4.2 Characteristics of Enzymes
4.1 Enzymes are Biological Catalysts

Learning Outcomes
After this section, you should be able to:
• define enzyme;
• explain the mode of enzyme action;
• describe the ‘lock-and-key’ hypothesis.
4.1 Enzymes are Biological Catalysts

What are catalysts?

A catalyst is a substance that:

• alters or speeds up a chemical reaction

• without itself being chemically changed at the
end of the reaction
4.1 Enzymes are Biological Catalysts

What are enzymes?

An enzyme:

• is a protein
• functions as a biological catalyst
• alters or speeds up chemical reactions
• remains chemically unchanged at the end
of the reaction.
4.1 Enzymes are Biological Catalysts

How do enzymes work?

• The ‘lock-and-key’ hypothesis explains how

and enzyme works.
• According to the ‘lock-and-key’ hypothesis,
enzyme reactions depends on the active site.
4.1 Enzymes are Biological Catalysts

The ‘lock-and-key’ hypothesis

1. An enzyme has a specific 3-D shape which

contains an active site.

substrate

active site

enzyme
4.1 Enzymes are Biological Catalysts

The ‘lock-and-key’ hypothesis

2. Only the substrate with a 3-D shape
complementary to that of the active site can fit
into the enzyme to form an enzyme-substrate
complex.
Note:
•The substrate is the
substrate binds to substance on which the
enzyme acts on.
active site of enzyme
•The enzyme is like a lock
and the substrate is like the
key. The substrate fits into
the enzyme like how a key
enzyme-substrate fits into a lock.
complex
4.1 Enzymes are Biological Catalysts

The ‘lock-and-key’ hypothesis

3. Chemical reaction occurs and the substrate is
converted into products.

Chemical reaction
occurs while substrate
is attached to the
enzyme
4.1 Enzymes are Biological Catalysts

The ‘lock-and-key’ hypothesis

4. The products then detach from the active site.
The enzyme remains unchanged at the end of
the reaction.

products

Products leaving active

site of enzyme
Chapter Enzymes
4

4.1 Enzymes are Biological Catalysts

4.2 Characteristics of Enzymes
4.2 Characteristics of Enzymes

Learning Outcomes
After this section, you should be able to:
• list the characteristics of enzymes;
• understand how temperature and pH affect the
rate of an enzyme-catalysed reaction.
 4.2 Characteristics of Enzymes

Characteristics of Enzymes

• Enzymes speed up chemical reactions.

• Enzymes are required in minute amounts.
• Enzymes are highly specific in action.
•Enzymes speed up chemical reactions by providing a pathway with
lower activation energy needed to start the reaction.
•Enzymes remain unchanged at the end of the experiment and can
be used over and over again. Thus, they are required only in small
amounts.
•Enzymes have a unique 3-D shape with a specific active site. Only
the substrate that is complementary to the active site can bind to the
enzyme.
4.2 Characteristics of Enzymes

Enzymes are Affected by Temperature

• Enzymes are inactive at very low temperatures.
• The kinetic energy is low at low temperatures.
• Hence, chances of substrate molecules colliding
with enzymes are very low.

Rate of
reaction
(enzyme
activity)

0 optimum Temperature
temperature
 4.2 Characteristics of Enzymes

Enzymes are Affected by Temperature

• As the temperature rises, enzyme activity increases.
• The increase in the kinetic energy of molecules
increases the chance of collision between substrate
and enzyme molecules.
• This increases the rate of formation of enzyme-
substrate complex.
Rate of
reaction
(enzyme
activity)

0 optimum Temperature
temperature
 4.2 Characteristics of Enzymes

Enzymes are Affected by Temperature

• The optimum temperature is the point when the rate of
reaction is highest and the enzyme is most active.
• The optimum temperature for different enzymes varies.
• For most enzymes, the optimum temperature is about
40-45oC.
Rate of C
reaction
(enzyme
activity)

0 optimum Temperature
temperature
 4.2 Characteristics of Enzymes

Enzymes are Affected by Temperature

• Beyond the optimum temperature, the enzyme activity
decreases.
• High temperature breaks the bond within the enzyme
and changes its 3-D shape.
• The active site of the enzyme loses its original shape.
• The enzyme is now denatured.
Rate of
reaction
(enzyme
activity) D

0 optimum Temperature
temperature
 4.2 Characteristics of Enzymes

Denaturation
• When an enzyme is denatured, there is loss or change
in the active site.
• The substrate can no longer fit into the enzyme’s active
site.
• Hence, no reaction can take place.
substrate

denature
substrate
active site

folded protein with denatured protein

intact active site (active site is lost)
4.2 Characteristics of Enzymes

Enzymes are Affected by pH

• Different enzymes have different optimum pHs,
at which they are most active.
• Extreme changes in pH denature the enzyme and
cause it to lose its function.