Enzyme Action

Question 1

What can boiling in acid do to maltose molecules?

Answer 1

• Boiling in acid can provide right conditions for maltose molecules to collide with water.

Question 2

What is the name for the energy needed for a reaction to take place?

Answer 2

• The energy needed for a reaction to take place is named the activation energy.

Question 3

How do enzymes work?

Answer 3

Enzymes work by reducing the amount of activation energy required.

Question 4

What shape is the active site, and what is it suited for?

Answer 4

• Active site shaped to fit the substrate molecule. Active site is complementary to substrate.

Question 5

What is the lock and key mechanism?

Answer 5

• Described using ‘lock-and-key’ mechanism – substrate molecule is the key. Substrate held in place so reaction can go ahead.

Question 6

What is the induced-fit hypothesis?

Answer 6

• Enzyme slightly changes shape as substrate binds to active site – charges on amino acids in active site contribute to holding substrate in place – this is known as induced fit hypothesis.

Question 7

How is the substrate held in place and what does it produce?

Answer 7

• Substrate fits into place and is held by oppositely charged groups on substrate and enzyme forming the enzyme-substrate complex. A product is produced, known as the enzyme-product complex.

Question 8

Why doesn’t the product fit into the active site?

Answer 8

Product is a different shape, and so doesn’t fit into the active site.