GCSE Biology - What are Enzymes?
Cognito・2 minutes read
Enzymes are biological catalysts made of proteins that speed up chemical reactions by matching the shape of substrates at their active site, utilizing the induced fit model to slightly change shape for a better fit. Unlike temperature, which can damage cells, enzymes are not consumed in the process of accelerating reactions, making them crucial for proper cellular function.
Insights
- Enzymes are biological catalysts made of proteins that speed up chemical reactions by matching the shape of substrates through specific active sites, utilizing either the lock and key or induced fit models for specificity.
- Unlike temperature, enzymes are essential for cell function as they accelerate reactions without being consumed, highlighting their critical role in maintaining cellular processes and preventing energy wastage or cell damage.
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Recent questions
What are enzymes?
Proteins that speed up chemical reactions in cells.
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Summary
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Enzymes: Essential Catalysts for Cellular Function
- Enzymes are crucial for living cells to function properly as they speed up chemical reactions without being consumed in the process, unlike temperature which can be detrimental due to energy requirements and potential damage to cells.
- Catalysts, including enzymes, are substances that accelerate chemical reactions, with enzymes being a specific type of biological catalyst made up of large proteins composed of unique sequences of amino acids that fold into specific shapes to catalyze particular reactions.
- Enzymes work by having an active site that matches the shape of substrates, allowing for specificity in reactions, with two main models of enzyme action being the lock and key model (initially thought to require perfect fit) and the induced fit model (where enzymes slightly change shape to better fit substrates).
