Enzymes

• The Sun

• Energy from the sun

• Energy stored in bonds of biomolecules

• Enzymes speed up chemical reaction
• In their absence, reaction would take place too slowly for cells to stay alive
• Therefore, enzymes are the most important controllers of chemical reactions

• Biological catalyst that speeds up chemical reactions without being used to in the reaction

• The substance an enzyme acts on

• The substance formed after the reaction has taken place

• Enzymes are specific in that each enzyme will have a certain substrate to act on
• Only works on 1 substrate

• If it does not fit its substrate it will not have an affect

• Globular

• Active site

NOTE - You won’t be asked to draw this in an exam but it is helpful to understand this diagram to properly understand enzymes

• Enzyme changes shape to better fit the substrate
• Active site is not fixed, but slightly flexible
• Allow a tight fit with substrate

• pH
• Temperature

• The pH or temperature at which an enzyme works best

• Use of enzymes for industrial processes

• Sterile vessel, set at the right temperature, right pH and the nutrients containing enzymes that are needed fore the reaction to take place

• The end product is contaminated with the enzyme and the 2 must be separated

• This is a technique to separate the product from the enzyme

• A substance that will not interfere with rest of reaction