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S. Tagore 2010 Williamwood High School
ENZYMES
Glossary of terms…

Active site – region on an enzyme molecules where the substrate
becomes attached during the reaction

Catalyst – chemical that increases the rate of a chemical reaction and
remains unaltered

Denatured – an enzyme that has been permanently destroyed by a
temperature greater than 50C

Degradation – breaking down large complex molecules into smaller
ones by an enzyme-controlled reaction

End product – substance formed as a result of an enzyme acting on its
substrate

Enzyme – protein made by living cells that acts as a biological catalyst

Optimum – the particular condition of a variable factor at which an
enzyme of most active

Specific – an enzyme is only able to act on one type of substrate –
they fit together like a ‘lock and key’

Substrate – substance upon which an enzyme acts resulting in the
formation of an end product

Synthesis – building up large complex molecules from simpler ones by
an enzyme-controlled reaction

Working range – the limits of a particular variable factor (e.g. pH )
within which an enzyme can act on its substrate
S. Tagore 2010 Williamwood High School
CELLS
Glossary of terms…

Antibiotic - chemical which inhibits bacterial growth

Bacteria - unicellular micro-organisms used in yoghurt and cheese
making

Cell wall - tough (see-through) protective cover on some cell types,
made of cellulose

Chloroplast - changes light energy to chemical energy
(photosynthesis) in green plants

Cytoplasm - site of cellular metabolic processes (many chemical
reactions)

Diffusion - movement of molecules down a concentration gradient

Fermentation - metabolic process involving micro-organisms

Flaccid - soft, due to lack of water pressure in plant cells and tissues

Hypertonic – a cell with less water than its surrounding environment

Hypotonic - a cell with more water than its surrounding environment

Isotonic - a cell with an equal water concentration to its surrounding
environment

Lactic acid - product of the fermentation of lactose sugar

Lactose - type of sugar present in milk

Microbe - microscopic organism, usually bacteria or viruses
S. Tagore 2010 Williamwood High School

Nucleus - control centre of the cell

Osmosis - diffusion of water through permeable membranes

Penicillin - one type of antibiotic

Plasmolysed - lack of water has caused collapse of cytoplasm in plant
cell

Turgid – description of a plant cell whose vacuole is full of water and
is pushing against the cell wall, stretching it slightly.

Vacuole – plant cell structure that contains water and dissolved salts.
Water in the vacuole supports plant cells

Yeast - unicellular fungus used in baking, brewing and alternative fuel
production