Enzymes and catalysts in general (1 Viewer)

[pLuvia]

Enzymes which are organic catalyst increases the speed of a reaction, yet it is not consumed into the reaction. This puzzles me, why does this happen?

 

[Survivor39]

Why it is not consumed?? This is because enzyme is a protein and all it does is to lower the activation energy required for a reaction to occur. So in biological terms, substrates bind and fit into the enzyme active site and the enzyme convert them to products and releases them again. This enzyme can then bind to other substrates and does the same thing, which means it is "not consumed" because it is keeps on repeating the same process.

I hope this helps. I'm not sure if that's what you asked.

 

[pLuvia]

Oh, I understand now thanks Survivor39

How about with catalysts? Is it the same process or concept?

 

[pLuvia]

I know this a very early question to ask, but the first dot point of the biology syllabus is

Identify the role of enzymes in metabolism, describe their chemical composition and use a simple model to describe their specificity on substrates

Knowing that there is two models of the enzyme function the Lock and Key Model and the Induced Fit Model, would you lose marks in the HSC if you explain both of them, when the syllabus only requires knowing one of the models ?

 

[Survivor39]

hmmm, if the question ask you to explain ONE, then you can just explain one (for 1 or 2 mark question). If it's a 3+ mark question, then it won't hurt to explain both.

If you decided to do biochemistry at university, the current, most-up-to-date model is actually not any one of those, but it's a bit of both. Enzymes actually "move" and adjust their conformation (shape) to allow substrate binding.

As to your catalyst question, I'm pretty sure most catalysts don't get used up in the process.

 

[pLuvia]

I'm thinking of doing b science - genetics if that's classified as biochemistry

 

[Survivor39]

Genetics and biochemistry are different, but related disciplines. Genetics deals with mutations and variations, both at the prokaryotic and eukaryotic level. Biochemistry mainly deals with metabolism in humans or other organisms, and examine how glucose, amino acids and fatty acids get broken down via various pathways.

 

[pLuvia]

ah ok thanks