Enzymes are specialized proteins that act as biological catalysts, speeding up chemical reactions essential for life. They form enzyme-substrate complexes, which reduce activation energy and increase reaction efficiency. The specificity of enzymes is due to the unique arrangement of amino acids in their active sites, allowing them to perform various functions in the body. Enzyme activity can be modulated by competitive and noncompetitive inhibitors, as well as allosteric regulation, which is crucial for maintaining metabolic balance.
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Enzymes are specialized proteins that act as catalysts in living organisms, speeding up essential chemical reactions
Formation and Interaction
Enzyme-substrate complexes are formed when an enzyme binds to its specific substrate at the active site, facilitating a chemical reaction through non-covalent bonds
Models of Interaction
The Lock and Key model suggests a precise fit between the enzyme's active site and the substrate, while the Induced Fit model proposes a conformational change in the active site for a snug fit
Enzymes are highly specific, interacting only with substrates that match their active site's unique structure, and play crucial roles in various biological processes such as digestion, energy production, and tissue repair
Enzyme activity can be regulated by competitive inhibitors, which compete with substrates for the active site, or noncompetitive inhibitors, which bind to an allosteric site and change the enzyme's shape
Allosteric regulation involves changes in the enzyme's quaternary structure, where the binding of an effector molecule can influence the activity of the entire enzyme
Regulation of enzyme activity is crucial for maintaining balance and efficiency in biological processes
Enzymes such as lactase, maltase, and sucrase play essential roles in breaking down carbohydrates into simpler forms for energy production
Enzymes also perform various functions in the body, including tissue repair, immune support, energy production, and maintaining structural integrity
Not all proteins with active sites are enzymes, as seen in the case of hemoglobin, which binds and transports oxygen but does not catalyze a reaction
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In cellular respiration, enzymes assist in transforming ______ into ______, the main energy source for cells.
glucose
adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
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Nature of enzyme-substrate complex bonds
Non-covalent bonds form within active site, crucial for catalysis.
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Enzyme's conformational change upon substrate binding
Binding induces enzyme shape change, optimizing catalytic activity.
