Download Reviewing Enzymes

Reviewing Enzymes
• - All enzymes are proteins...proteins are also
called “polypeptides”.
• - Enzymes are made up of amino acids
(amino group + carboxyl group (an organic acid) + “R” group”)
• - held together by “peptide bonds”
(bond between C and N)
• - most enzymes end with “ase”
• - Enzymes are “Biochemical catalysts”..... they
trigger or accelerate a chemical reaction without
being chemically altered themselves.
• Enzymes are very “specific”.
• Enzymes lower the amount of
activation energy required to start a
reaction.
An Enzyme Reaction includes an enzyme,
a substrate, and products.
• A Substrate is the molecule(s) acted upon in an enzyme reaction.
• The Product(s) of a reaction are “What you make” as
a result of a chemical reaction.
Coenzymes
• Organic molecules that
aid in enzyme reactions.
• Many Vitamins are
Coenzymes.
The distinguishing feature
of the vitamins is that
they generally cannot be
made by mammalian
cells and, therefore,
must be supplied in the
diet.
Cofactors
• Non-protein molecules, or ions, which
aid in enzyme reactions.
• Examples: Zinc, Iron and Copper.