Enzymes

GCE Study Buddy

Biology

What is a catalyst?
A substance that speeds up the rate of a

chemical reaction.
Enzymes are biological catalysts.

What is an enzyme?
Enzymes are special compounds produced by

living cells in a body of an organism that allow

chemical reactions to take place at a faster
rate.
They act as catalysts.
They are made of protein.
They alter the rate of chemical reactions
without themselves being chemically changed.
Each enzyme has a unique shape.

Importance
Vital to maintain normal functioning in an

organism
Enzymes can either :
break down complex substances into

simpler substances ( catabolism );

OR
build up complex substances from simpler

substances

( anabolism ).

Uses
1.

Digestion
Complex insoluble molecules are broken

down into small soluble molecules

2.

Cellular respiration
Oxidation of glucose to produce energy

3.

Germination of seeds

Types of enzymes
Extracellular enzymes
Enzymes leave the cell in which they were
produced to exert their functions outside
the cell.
Eg. salivary amylase
2. Intracellular enzymes
1.

Enzymes exert their action inside the cells

Egs. lysozyme in lysosomes

Classification of enzymes
1.

2.

Hydrolysis = splitting of water (water

molecules are needed to break down
complex molecules)
Called hydrolases
carbohydrases (carbohydrates)
amylases (starch)
cellulases (cellulose)
proteases (proteins)
lipases (fats)

Enzyme action
Lock and key hypothesis
2.
Enzyme catalyzed reaction:Lock = enzyme molecule
Key = substrate molecule
1.

Active
site
Enzyme
substrate
complex
enzyme

substrate

enzyme

products

Active
site
Enzyme
substrate
complex
amylase

starch

amylase

2
maltose
units

Active site
They are specific depressions or pockets on
the surface of an enzyme molecule into which
only a complementary substrate can fit.

Lock and Key Hypothesis

The lock = enzyme
The key = substrate
This clearly explains how enzymes are highly specific due to
the complementary shape-pairing for its targeted substrates.

Induced-fit Hypothesis
The active site is flexible and does not initially exist in

the shape complementary to the substrate.

Enzyme enfolds substrate when it binds to the active
site.
Active site is moulded into a shape complementary to
that of the substrate, which enables it to perform its
catalytic function most effectively.

How do enzymes speed up

chemical reactions?
Enzymes increase the rate of a reaction.
Enzymes DO NOT increase the amount of

Amount of
reactant left

Amount of product
formed

product formed at the end of the reaction.

Time

Time

How do enzymes speed up

chemical reactions?
Enzymes lower the activation energy of a chemical
reaction
They allow the reactions to be carried out at a
LOWER TEMPERATURE RANGE!

Activation energy

How do enzymes speed up

chemical reactions?
In any chemical reaction, molecules must reach

a certain energy state before reaction is

possible. This is known as the activation energy.
The activation energy acts as a barrier to the
reaction.
The activation energy can be overcome through
increasing the temperature and pressure.
Enzymes lower the activation energy needed to
start a chemical reaction.

How do enzymes speed up

chemical reactions?
Activation energy is lowered because enzymes

form the enzyme-substrate complex.

This causes a redistribution of electrical
charge, which strains the chemical bonds
within the substrate.
Therefore, more molecules can cross the
energy barrier and the reaction rate is faster.

Characteristics of Enzymes
Enzymes and speed of chemical
reactions
Enzymes alter or speed up the rates of
chemical reactions that occur in a cell.
Enzymes remain unchanged in the
reactions
Enzymes can be reused over and over
again
1.

Characteristics of Enzymes
2. Enzymes are required in minute
amounts
A very small amount of enzyme is capable
of catalyzing a huge reaction

Characteristics of Enzymes
3. Enzymes are VERY specific.
Amylases will only act on starch and NOT
on proteins or fats.
The substances that enzymes act on are
called substrates ( starch, proteins and
fats)

Characteristics of Enzymes
4. Enzyme activity is affected by temperature.
The activity of the enzyme and the rate of reaction is
highest at the optimum temperature.
At low temperatures, enzymes are inactive.
As temperature rises, the rate of reaction increases
because:
Heating leads to an increase in kinetic energy of
molecules.
This leads to more successful collisions, and more
formation of enzyme-substrate complexes.
Beyond the optimum temperature, the enzyme
activity decreases as the enzyme is denatured.

Rate of enzyme activity

Enzyme activity is affected by temperature

Optimal temp

Temperature

Enzyme activity is affected by temperature

Enzymes are protein in nature.
Proteins are denatured at high temperatures.
Denaturation is irreversible

Enzyme activity is affected by temperature

The 3D shape of the active site is determined by weak

hydrogen bonds that hold the chains of amino acids in

place.
An increase in temperature causes vibrations in the
atoms of the enzyme, causing the hydrogen bonds to be
disrupted/break.
The active site loses its shape and is no longer
complementary to the substrate.
The enzyme can no longer act as a catalyst.

Characteristics of Enzymes
5. Enzyme activity is affected by pH
Enzymes are affected by the acidity or
alkalinity of solutions.
Some work best in acidic environment
eg pepsin)

Alkaline environment
intestinal enzymes eg amylase

Extreme changes in pH can denature the

enzymes.

Rate of enzyme activity

Enzyme activity is affected by pH

Weak
bonds
disrupted

Weak
bonds
disrupted

Optimal pH

pH

Enzyme activity is affected by pH

Enzymes are made of proteins.

The 3D shape of the active site is determined by
weak hydrogen bonds that hold the chains of
amino acids in place.
Interference of the H+ or OH- ions with the
hydrogen bonds causes them to be disrupted.
The active site loses its specific shape and is no
longer complementary to the substrate.
The enzyme is denatured.

Why do enzymes denature?

1.
2.
3.
4.

Enzymes are made of proteins

Proteins heat them up changes
their shape
Their 3-D structure is changed.
Changes are made to the active site.

Limiting factors

What happens at low substrate

concentration?
At low substrate concentrations, collisions

between enzyme and substrate molecules

are infrequent and reaction proceeds
slowly.

 As the substrate concentration increases,

the rate of reaction initially increases

proportionately as collisions between
enzyme molecules and substrates
become more frequent.

Substrate Concentration

Enzyme Concentration

Why are enzymes required in

small amounts?
Enzymes remain unchanged at the end of a

reaction.
The active site of an enzyme may be used
again.
Therefore, enzymes can work efficiently at
low concentrations.
Provided that the substrate(s) are present in
excess, increasing the enzyme
concentration will increase the rate of
reaction.

Why are enzymes specific?

This allows control over when and where

reactions happen.
Enzymes are specific due to the threedimensional surface configuration of the
active site.
The active site of the enzyme has a specific
shape and distribution of charge that is
complementary to that of its substrate.
This is explained by the lock and key
hypothesis.

Summary
Characteristics of enzymes
1.
2.

Enzymes speed up chemical reactions.

Enzymes are required in small
amounts.

3.

Enzymes are specific.

4.

Enzymes are affected by temperature.

5.

Enzymes are affected by pH.

6.

Enzymes catalyse reversible reactions.

Summary
Factors affecting the rate of an enzyme reaction
Enzyme concentration
Substrate concentration
Temperature
pH
Presence of inhibitors

Question
Which graph shows how temperature affects the rate
of an enzyme-controlled reaction?

C
Rate

Rate

Temperature

Temperature

Rate

Rate

Temperature

Temperature

Question
The diagram shows an experiment to investigate the action
of a protease enzyme on a 1g cube of raw meat. After
15min at 20C, 0.25g of the protein was converted into
amino acids. How much protein would be digested if the
experiment was repeated at a temperature of 30C?
A.0.0g
B.0.15g

C.0.25g
D.0.50g

Protease solution
1.0g cube of
meat

Question

Question

Question
Three wells were cut in agar jelly, which is made of
starch. A different solution was placed in each well.
Twelve hours later, the jelly was flooded with iodine. The
diagram below shows the final appearance of the jelly.
Which solutions could have given the results shown?
Well 1

Well 2

Well 3

Amylase +acid

Amylase

Boiled amylase

Amylase +acid

Boiled amylase

Amylase

Amylase

Amylase +acid

Boiled amylase

Amylase

Boiled amylase

Amylase +acid