Enzymes

Unravel the mysteries of enzymes! This worksheet helps high school students label key parts and grasp enzyme functions.

Enzyme Labeling Use the following words to label the Enzyme picture:enzymesubstratesactive siteenzyme-substrate complexproduct Substrates Enzyme Enzyme-Substrate Complex Product Active Site Look in your notes or watch the lecture again to find the answers.word bank-homeostasis increase activation energyproteins -ase substrates Enzymes are proteins that reduce the activation energy of a chemical reaction and increase the rate of the reaction. Enzymes are necessary to maintain homeostasis (internal balance).Substrates are the substances that undergo a chemical reaction caused by the enzyme. Most enzyme names have the ending -ase. Enzymes are proteins that speed up the rate of a reaction. Enzymes are a type of catalyst . The difference between a catalyst and an enzyme is that the enzyme is a protein and is organic; catalysts do not have to be organic nor do they have to be proteins. An enzyme works by lowering the activation energy of a reaction. Once the reaction occurs, the enzyme is recycled so that it can be used again in other reactions. Enzymes are specific to the reaction. Each enzyme has a different shape based on its function . The enzyme contains a groove called an active site in which the substrate fits. The fit is often referred to as a lock and-key fit since the active site will only allow certain substrate(s) to enter. Once the substrate enters the active site, the hydrogen bonds between the substrate and enzyme cause an induced fit . The substrate and enzyme are bonded together in a enzyme-substrate complex. Once the products are formed and released, the enzyme is available to repeat the reaction with additional substrates. Some enzymes have more than one active site and each site will attract a different substrate because the active site has a different shape . These enzymes are able to have coupled reactions or two reactions occurring at the same time. Energetically unfavorable reactions require a more energetically favorable reaction to occur at the same time so that the less favorable reaction can occur . For coupled reactions to occur, both must happen at the same time, or neither reaction can occur. Enzymes must operate under optimal conditions. If the temperature or pH is too high or too low, the enzyme will not work as well. If the environment around an enzyme reaches temperatures or pH too extreme for the enzyme, the enzyme will become denatured .