All Flashcards
What is the definition of metabolism?
The constant activity happening at the molecular level, including processes like growth and reproduction.
What is a catalyst?
A substance that speeds up a chemical reaction by lowering the activation energy.
What is the definition of activation energy?
The energy required to start a chemical reaction.
What is an enzyme?
A biological catalyst that speeds up reactions in cells by lowering activation energy. They are highly specific.
What is a substrate?
The reactant on which an enzyme acts.
What is an enzyme-substrate complex?
An intermediate complex formed when an enzyme binds to its substrate, which is more reactive than the substrate alone.
What is a competitive inhibitor?
A substance that binds to the active site of an enzyme, blocking substrate binding.
What is a noncompetitive inhibitor?
A substance that binds to a part of the enzyme other than the active site, changing its shape and reducing its activity.
Define enzyme denaturation.
The process by which an enzyme loses its specific three-dimensional structure, often due to extreme temperature or pH, resulting in loss of function.
What are the key differences between competitive and noncompetitive inhibitors?
Competitive: Binds to active site, blocks substrate. Noncompetitive: Binds elsewhere, changes enzyme shape.
What are the steps of enzyme catalysis?
- Enzyme and substrate bind, forming an enzyme-substrate complex. 2. Enzyme lowers the activation energy. 3. Reaction proceeds, forming product. 4. Product is released, and the enzyme is free to catalyze another reaction.