Enzymes | IGCSE Biology and GCSE Biology Revision

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An enzyme is a biological catalyst, which means it speeds up chemical

reactions without being used up in the process. Enzymes are important
in living organisms because they allow reactions to occur at lower
temperatures than would normally be possible without a catalyst.

Enzymes play a role in various metabolic processes such as respiration,

photosynthesis, and digestion. They are called biological catalysts
because they are made from proteins, which are composed of amino
acids held together by bonds. However, these bonds can break under
certain conditions, such as changes in temperature and pH, causing the
enzyme to lose its shape and become denatured.

The lock and key model is a way to describe how enzymes function. The
reactant, known as the substrate, has a specific shape that fits into the
enzyme's active site, similar to how a key fits into a lock. When the
substrate binds to the active site, the reaction occurs. Enzyme specificity
refers to the fact that each enzyme can only catalyse reactions with the
correct shaped substrate. This means that each enzyme typically
catalyses only one type of reaction.

It's important to note that the enzyme and substrate are not the same
shape; rather, they are complementary in shape to each other. Enzymes
and substrates are in constant motion due to their kinetic energy.
Sometimes, they collide and the substrate binds to the enzyme's active
site, forming an enzyme-substrate complex. The reaction then takes
place, converting the substrate into a product. After the product is
formed, it detaches from the enzyme and diffuses away, allowing the
enzyme to catalyze another reaction.

In summary, enzymes are biological catalysts that bind to substrates at

their active sites to catalyze reactions. The lock and key model illustrates
how the enzyme's active site acts as a lock, joining with the substrate,
which is the key. Most enzymes are specific to only one type of reaction.
The enzyme and substrate move around due to their kinetic energy, and
when they collide, the enzyme-substrate complex forms, leading to the
reaction and product formation. Afterward, the product detaches from
the enzyme and diffuses away, making the enzyme available for another
reaction.