Topic 4: Chapter 5

Enzymes Part 1
What are Catalysts?
Substances which can alter or
speed up a chemical reaction,

without itself being chemically
changed at the end of the reaction.
Catalysts
(A) Inorganic

Iron Haber process
Vanadium (v) Oxide
production of sulphuric
acid
Manganese (IV) Oxide

(B) Organic

Digestive enzymes
Metabolic enzymes




Enzymes are biological catalysts

which are mainly proteins that are produced
by living cells.

Enzymes can be DENATURED by heating or
by changes in the pH of the solution

E.g. Digestive enzymes,
Metabolic enzymes



(B) Organic Catalysts
The function of enzymes
How is energy released from sugar (glucose)?




But how can our cells provide such high
temperatures during cellular respiration to
release energy from glucose??


Glucose + Oxygen Carbon dioxide + Water + Energy

Strong Heat
The function of enzymes
Lower Activation Energy
Activation Energy: Energy required to start a
chemical reaction.




Activation Energy
with enzyme
Activation
Energy without
enzyme
Reactants (Substrate):
(Glucose + Oxygen)
Products:
(Carbon dioxide + water)
Energy
Time
Enzyme-Catalyzed Reactions
(A) Synthesis of
complex substances

Anabolic Reactions
Protein synthesis
Photosynthesis
Conversion of glucose
to glycogen
etc
(B) Breaking down of
complex substances

Catabolic Reactions
Digestion
Cellular Respiration
Detoxification in the
liver and blood by catalase
etc
Enzyme-Catalyzed Anabolic Reactions
Protein Synthesis
Synthesis of proteins from amino acids in the
cytoplasm
Photosynthesis
Synthesis of sugar from carbon dioxide and water
Glycogen formation
Conversion of glucose to glycogen for storage.
Enzyme-Catalyzed Catabolic Reactions
Digestion
Breakdown of complex food
substances to smaller, simpler, more
soluble and diffusible substances.
So that food can pass through the
cell membrane and be absorbed into
the bloodstream.
Enzymes involved Hydrolases
(e.g Carbohydrases, Proteases and Lipases)
Enzyme-Catalyzed Catabolic Reactions
Cellular Respiration
Oxidation of glucose by cells to release
energy.
Many enzymes
involved
Enzyme-Catalyzed Catabolic Reactions
Detoxification in the liver and blood
Conversion of toxic to non-toxic substances




Example: Conversion of toxic Hydrogen peroxide,
H
2
O
2
(a by-product of cellular respiration) to non-
toxic water and oxygen by enzyme CATALASE

Classification of enzymes
Hydrolases
Enzymes that catalyzes hydrolytic
reactions which involves the
addition of water molecules to
breakdown a complex molecule

Examples of hydrolytic reactions:
Digestion of carbohydrates,
proteins & fats
Classification of enzymes
Hydrolases
Types of
Hydrolases
Example(s) Substrate
Carbohydrases Salivary and pancreatic amylase Starch
Cellulase produced by some
bacteria
Cellulose
Proteases Pepsin produced in the stomach Proteins
Trypsin produced as an inactive
form (trypsinogen) by the pancreas
Proteins
Erepsin produced by intestinal
glands
Polypeptides
Lipases Pancreatic and Intestinal lipases Fats
Classification of enzymes
Oxidation-Reduction Enzymes
Enzymes that
are involved in
cellular
respiration.

Breaks down
glucose to
release energy,
carbon dioxide
and water

15
Test yourself

16
Test yourself pg 75 - answers
1
An enzyme is a biological
catalyst made of protein. It
alters the rate of a chemical
reaction without itself being
chemically changed at the end
of the reaction.

17
Test yourself pg 75 - answers
2
Yes, the statement is valid. Large,
insoluble molecules such as
carbohydrates, fats and proteins
cannot diffuse through the cell
surface membrane. They must first
be converted into simpler, smaller
substances, which are soluble and
diffusible.
18
Test yourself pg 75 - answers
3
Meat contains mostly proteins,
hence we can infer that this
enzyme acts on proteins. The
enzyme could soften meat by
breaking down the proteins into
peptides or amino acids.
19
Test yourself pg 75 - answers
4
A very rapid, violent chemical
reaction would take place, with a
thick layer of foam produced.
Water and oxygen are produced
when catalase in the red blood
cells breaks down hydrogen
peroxide.