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Key Knowledge -Cell Functioning: General role of enzymes in biochemical activities of cells
ENZYMES
…
Definitions

Enzyme (E): protein catalyst

Catalysts: speed up reactions
without being changed by the
reaction

Substrate (S): reactant(s) in
the enzyme-catalyzed reaction

Active site: area of enzyme
where substrate(s) bind(s)
Enzymes

Are involved in every
biochemical reaction and
thereby control metabolism

Enzymes are globular proteins
with a specific threedimensional conformation

Increase the rate of reaction
without altering the enzyme
Enzymes

A single enzyme molecule can catalyse thousands or
more reactions a second.

Enzymes are unaffected by the reaction and are
reusable.

Cofactors
Many enzymes need cofactors (or coenzymes) to work
properly. These can be metal ions (such as Fe2+, Mg2+, Cu2+)
or organic molecules (such as haem, biotin, FAD, NAD or
coenzyme A). Many of these are derived from dietary vitamins,
which is why they are so important.
Enzymes at work

Each enzyme can usually only be the catalyst for a single reaction. For
example, the enzyme maltase is the catalyst for changing maltose into
glucose. Enzymes have the ending -ase. The action of maltase on this
reaction is usually written as:
maltase
Maltose
Glucose
If there is too much glucose the enzyme can help the reaction to go in
the opposite direction:
maltase
Glucose
Maltose
Because this reaction can go in either direction it is called a reversible
reaction and it is shown with the arrows drawn in both directions:
maltase
Maltose
Glucose
Enzymes at work
Proteases and peptidases - A protease is any enzyme that can break
down a long protein into smaller chains called peptides .
Peptidases break peptides down into individual amino acids.
Proteases and peptidases are often found in laundry detergents -- they
help remove things like blood stains from cloth by breaking down the
proteins.
Amylases - Amylases break down starch chains into smaller sugar
molecules. Your saliva contains amylase and so does your small
intestine. Maltase, lactase, sucrase finish breaking the simple sugars
down into individual glucose molecules.
Lipases - Lipases break down fats.
Cellulases - Cellulases break cellulose molecules down into simpler
sugars. Bacteria in the guts of cows and termites excrete cellulases,
and this is how cows and termites are able to eat things like grass and
wood.
Specificity

Enzymes are highly specific with each enzyme acting on only one
kind of substrate

Induced Fit Model - there is some flexibility to the active site which
can expand or contract to accommodate the substrate
Enzyme-Substrate complex

The substrate (S) binds to the active site of the enzyme (E) to form an
enzyme-substrate complex (ES)

The enzyme and the substrate are held together by weak bonds

Then the substrate is converted into product while attached to the
enzyme, and finally the product is released.

The enzyme (E) is unchanged at the end of the reaction - it returns to
its original shape after releasing P
How do enzymes speed up
reactions?

Enzymes lower the
activation energy
(EA=amount of energy
that reactant molecules
require to start a reaction)
of the chemical reactions
that they catalyze

E-S binding causes a
strain on the bonds in the
substrate
Factors affecting enzyme activity
1. TEMPERATURE

Increases rate of reaction by
increasing kinetic energy so
that molecules collide more
frequently

Eventually at a certain
temperature enzymes are
denatured and will not function
•
Denaturation - a structural change
in a protein that results in a loss
(usually permanent) of its biological
properties
Optimum
temperature
Enzyme
denatures
Factors affecting enzyme activity
2. pH

Can change enzyme shape by
changing the charge on amino
acids


Enzymes have an optimal pH at
which they function best

e.g. pepsin pH optimum is 2

e.g. trypsin pH optimum is 8
pH can also denature enzymes
by changing state of ionization
of R groups
Factors affecting enzyme activity
3. SUBSTRATE CONCENTRATION

Reaction rate increases with increasing
substrate concentration

There is a limit to this increase however once all active sites are occupied
(saturated), adding more substrate will not
increase the reaction rate
4. ENZYME CONCENTRATION

As the enzyme concentration increases the
rate of the reaction increases linearly,
because there are more enzyme molecules
available to catalyse the reaction. At very
high enzyme concentration the substrate
concentration may become rate-limiting, so
the rate stops increasing. Normally enzymes
are present in cells in rather low
concentrations.
Factors affecting enzyme activity
5. Inhibitors

molecules that bind to the substrate and change it so
that the enzyme cannot bind to it
•
e.g. cyanide binds to copper ions in cytochrome oxidase (final
enzyme in respiration) irreversibly
•
e.g. sarin (nerve gas) binds to acetylcholinesterase irreversibly
Enzymes in biotechnology
At present, cellulases and related enzymes are
used in food, brewery and wine, animal feed,
textile and laundry, pulp and paper industries,
as well as in agriculture and for research
purposes. Indeed, the demand for these
enzymes is growing more rapidly than ever
before, and this demand has become the
driving force for research on cellulases and
related enzymes.
Brewing
Brewing uses the living
organism yeast.
Enzymes within yeast
catalyse anaerobic
respiration, which
converts glucose
solution into ethanol
(alcohol) and carbon
dioxide.
This reaction is called fermentation.
glucose → carbon dioxide + ethanol
Bread making
Fermentation is also used in bread making. Flour, water, sugar and
yeast are the main ingredients in bread. The ingredients are mixed
together to make a dough. This dough is left in a warm place for an
hour or two. During this time, fermentation takes place and carbon
dioxide is produced. It is the carbon dioxide that helps to make the
bread rise when the dough is cooked in an oven.
Biological washing powders
One common use in the
home is in biological
washing powders. The
enzymes are supposed to
digest protein stains from
the clothes. Since
enzymes work at a low
temperature this saves
electricity and makes
them good for delicate
fabrics.
Wider uses of enzymes
Enzymes are used in many industrial processes.
Some of the enzymes and the products are:
Amylases- used in textile and paper production
 Ficin- used in photographic processes
 Pepsin - used in the pharmaceutical industry
 Bacterial proteases- used in making leather,
textiles and in laundry
 Catalase- used in rubber production
Enzyme deficiency

Most genetic disorders are due
to a deficiency in enzyme
function

PKU
Phenylketnonuria is an inborn
error of metabolism in which a
missing enzyme causes the
amino acid phenylalanine to
build up, with devastating
effects on the nervous system
unless the individual follows a
restrictive diet.
Enzyme deficiency
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Lactose intolerance
- The inability to digest lactose (the sugar
in milk) is caused by a missing lactase gene. Without this gene, no
lactase is produced by intestinal cells.
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Albinism -
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Cystic fibrosis
In albinos, the gene for the enzyme tyrosinase is
missing. This enzyme is necessary for the production of melanin, the
pigment that leads to suntans, hair color and eye color. Without
tyrosinase, there is no melanin.
- In cystic fibrosis, the gene that manufactures
the protein called cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance
regulator is damaged.
Quick Quiz


1. What is an enzyme?
2. One characteristic of an enzyme is that it is
unchanged at the end of a reaction. Give two more
 characteristics of an enzyme.
 3. Draw a graph to show the effect of changing the
temperature on the rate of an enzyme-catalysed
reaction.
 4. Draw a graph to show the effect of changing the pH
on the rate of an enzyme-catalysed reaction.
 5. What happens to an enzyme when it is denatured?
 6. Give two conditions that will denature an enzyme.
 7. List four industries that use enzymes.