Enzymes

Enzymes are proteins not all proteins are enzymes!

They are called biological catalyst. That means they

speed up chemical reactions that occur in cells. Without
these enzymes the processes would still take place but
at a very slow rate.

Enzymes are made of amino acids - What are

amino acids?

Enzymes
Hundreds of chemical reactions occur in a living cell. Enzymes
speed up and regulate these reactions.
Each chemical reaction is controlled by a specific enzyme.
Intracellular enzymes work inside the cell (in a muscle cell).
Extracellular enzymes work outside the cell (digestion enzymes
produced by cells in glands are secreted and function outside
the cells)
Enzymes are often named by adding -ase to the end of the
substance that they act on. Eg. maltase acts on maltose, lipase
acts on lipids etc.
Enzymes and break down (catabolic) and build up (anabolic)
molecules.
Enzymes are not destroyed during a reaction and can be used
over and over again, just like a key can be used repeatedly.

Structure of enzyme

Enzyme Structure

How do they work

There are two models to explain how an
enzyme works

Enzyme model

Enzymes
The molecule that the enzyme works on is called the
substrate.
Enzymes have a reactive site. This is where the
substrate is drawn to.
The product is what is released by the enzyme.
Enzymes are proteins and like any other protein they are
affected by heat. Heating an enzyme changes the shape
of the molecule so that it cannot join with the correct
substrate molecule (the key no longer fits the lock).
An enzyme altered by heat is said to be denatured.

Denaturing

As a protein (enzymes are proteins but not all proteins are

enzymes) heats up, at about 60 C the heat
will change the proteins shape.

 Vitamins and minerals (co-enzymes) are an essential

part of our diet since some enzymes will only work if
certain vitamins, minerals are present.
Enzyme poisons such as mercury, led and cyanide will
stop enzymes from working.
Enzymes

Factors affecting enzyme

activity
There are 4 environmental factors that
affect the activity of an enzyme

Temperature
pH
Substrate concentration
Enzyme concentration

Factors that affect the rate at which enzymes will

work. Temperature
As with all chemical reactions. Increasing the
temp increases the movement of the molecules.
When the molecule move more they are more
likely to bump into (make contact with) the
enzyme.
BUT. Too
much
temperature
(heat) and you
might denature
your enzymes

temperature

SciPAD page 75

pH

SciPAD page 77

Enzyme concentration

SciPAD page 81

Substrate concentration

SciPAD page 80

Investigating enzyme rate of

reaction
If you take some cells and adjust the
environmental conditions of those cells
you will be affecting the rate of catalase

SciPAD page 76

Investigating enzyme rate of

reaction
The same thing can be done with yeast

Review questions
Draw graphs to show change in reaction
rate for
Substrate concentration
Increasing temperature
Increasing pH
Enzyme concentration
ANSWER

Review questions
Label the following graphs with
Substrate concentration
Increasing temperature
Increasing pH
Enzyme concentration

ANSWER