Enzymes

Enzymes

An enzyme is a protein catalysts that speeds up a reaction without being used up in the reaction
Active site Theory of Enzyme Action
1. The active site of an enzyme is the area where the substrate enters and is changed into a product
2. Specificity refers to an enzyme's ability to react with only one substrate
3. The lock and key model
  1. Enzyme has a rigid shape and substrate fits into active site
4. The Induced fit Model
  1. The substrate(s) does not fit perfectly into active site but the active site is flexible
    1. Active site changes shape to fit substrate, enzymes active site acts on substrate to convert it to a product
      1. Product is released and active site changes back to its original shape
Factors affecting Enzyme Action
1. Temperature
  1. Above a certain temp. the enzyme loses its shape and its ability to function. It is said to be denatured
  2. As the temp. rises, molecules move faster. This causes enzymes and substrate molecules to collide more often. For this reason the rate of enzyme reaction increases with temp.
  3. It's optimum temperature 37 ºC
2. pH
  1. Changes in pH disrupt the enzyme's shape
    1. If the enzyme's shape is lost, it cannot act on its substrate
Bioprocessing
1. is the use of enzyme-controlled reactions to make a product
2. Immobilised Enzymes
  1. are enzymes that are attached to each other or to an inert substance
  2. Benefits
    1. Immobilised enzymes can be reused
    2. Product contains no enzyme (saves on separation costs)
    3. They are as efficient as isolated enzymes
  3. Uses
    1. Immobilised lactose breaks down lactose in milk for lactose-tolerant people
    2. Immobilised glucose isomerase is used in sweet manufacture to convert glucose to fructose
3. A bioreactor is a vessel in which cells or enzymes produce useful products

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	Created by james liew almost 9 years ago