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3a Enzymes Structure and Function

Enzymes are protein molecules composed of amino acid chains that fold into unique three-dimensional shapes. Each enzyme has a specific shape that determines what substrate it can bind to and break down. The substrate must complementarily fit into the enzyme's active site in order to form an enzyme-substrate complex and for the enzyme to catalyze the reaction, breaking down the substrate into products. This specificity in shape and binding is what allows different enzymes to catalyze different reactions and perform their functions.

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79 views12 pages

3a Enzymes Structure and Function

Enzymes are protein molecules composed of amino acid chains that fold into unique three-dimensional shapes. Each enzyme has a specific shape that determines what substrate it can bind to and break down. The substrate must complementarily fit into the enzyme's active site in order to form an enzyme-substrate complex and for the enzyme to catalyze the reaction, breaking down the substrate into products. This specificity in shape and binding is what allows different enzymes to catalyze different reactions and perform their functions.

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Lowell Cuff
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The structure of proteins

Enzymes are protein


molecules, and so are
made up of amino
acids. Most enzymes
contain between 100
and 1,000 amino acids.
Amino
Peptide
acids
bonds
These amino
acids are joined
together in a long
chain, by peptide
bonds
The structure of
enzymes
The long chain of
amino acids folds up
to make a 3D shape
just like in all proteins

This is a SPECIFIC
SHAPE meaning that
each different enzyme
has a different shape
UNIQUE to that
enzyme
Enzymes – what are they?
● Enzymes are proteins that speed up the rate of chemical
reactions inside the body – biological catalysts

● Amylase: Enzyme that breaks down carbohydrates


● Lipase: Enzyme that breaks down lipids
● Protease: Enzyme that breaks down proteins

● Why is it that these enzymes can only do these jobs and


they cannot do other jobs?
Unit 1: Health and nutrition Global context: Identities & relationships
Key concept: Relationships Related concepts: Evidence, Balance, Consequences
Statement of inquiry: It is important to be able to critically analyse and evaluate evidence from health related
studies so that informed decisions can be made to achieve a healthy balanced life

One common monomer is glucose. Starch is a


macromolecule made of repeating units of glucose.

http://www.biotopics.co.uk/jsmol/am
ylopectin.html#

http://www.biotopics.co.uk/jsmol/amylopectin.html
Unit 1: Health and nutrition Global context: Identities & relationships
Key concept: Relationships Related concepts: Evidence, Balance, Consequences
Statement of inquiry: It is important to be able to critically analyse and evaluate evidence from health related
studies so that informed decisions can be made to achieve a healthy balanced life
https://www.youtube.com/w
atch?v=XTUm-75-PL4
How do enzymes work

An enzyme is a protein with a unique 3D shape


Each enzyme is specific and breaks down only
one type of substrate
The substrate and the enzyme have a
complementary shape
The substrate binds to the enzymes active site
to make an enzyme substrate complex
The enzyme breaks the substrate down into
products
What happens at the active
site?
In the same way that a key fits into a lock, so a substrate is thought to fit into
an enzyme’s active site. The enzyme is the lock, and the reactant is the key.

+ ↔ ↔ +

enzyme enzyme
Enzyme - substrate
+ ↔ complex ↔ +

Substrate products
Unit 1: Health and nutrition Global context: Identities & relationships
Key concept: Relationships Related concepts: Evidence, Balance, Consequences
Statement of inquiry: It is important to be able to critically analyse and evaluate evidence from health related
studies so that informed decisions can be made to achieve a healthy balanced life

Practice question
Enzymes are so specific in their reactions because:

● Specific sequence of amino acids in the chain making up the protein


● Unique 3D shape
● Active site has a specific shape unique to that enzyme
● Substrate needs to fit into the active site
● Substrates all have different shapes
● Only the correctly shaped substrate will fit
● To form an enzyme-substrate complex
● For example:
○ Amylase breaks down starch into glucose
○ protease breaks down proteins into amino acids
○ Lipase breaks down lipids into fatty acids and glycerol
Unit 1: Health and nutrition Global context: Identities & relationships
Key concept: Relationships Related concepts: Evidence, Balance, Consequences
Statement of inquiry: It is important to be able to critically analyse and evaluate evidence from health related
studies so that informed decisions can be made to achieve a healthy balanced life

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