Enzymes

Maira Sohail Butt

Biology- MYP 4
Introduction
Enzymes are biological molecules
(typically proteins) that significantly
speed up the rate of all of the
chemical reactions that take place
within cells.
● They are vital for life and serve a wide range of
important functions in the body, such as aiding in
digestion and metabolism.

● Some enzymes help break large molecules into

smaller pieces that are more easily absorbed by
the body.

● Other enzymes help bind two molecules together

to produce a new molecule.

● Enzymes are highly selective catalysts, meaning

that each enzyme only speeds up a specific
reaction.
Enzyme
Structure
 Enzyme structure
Enzymes are a linear chain of amino acids, which give rise to a three-dimensional structure.

The sequence of amino acids specifies the structure, which in turn identifies the catalytic activity
of the enzyme.

The structure of an enzyme is crucially important for its function. The reaction that an enzyme
catalyzes occurs on the active site, which is the area of the protein in which the substrate can
bind and the chemical reaction can take place.

The active site is usually on the surface of the protein so it can be easily accessed, and usually
has a highly specific structure that allows it to bind its substrate and carry out its catalytic activity.

This structure is determined by the different side chains and modifications present in amino acids
in the chain, and the resulting final structure the enzyme adopts. Usually, each enzyme only has
one active site that can bind one substrate or class of substrates.
Enzyme action
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=rlH1ym916Fo
Enzyme reactions typically occur in aqueous solutions. Consequently, the substrate and enzyme are usually
moving randomly within the solution. This is referred to as Brownian motion. Sometimes an enzyme may be
fixed in position (e.g. membrane-bound) – this serves to localize reactions to particular sites

Four Steps of Enzyme Action

1. The enzyme and the substrate are in the same area. Some situations have more than one substrate
molecule that the enzyme will change.

2. The enzyme grabs on to the substrate at a special area called the active site. The combination is called
the enzyme/substrate complex. Enzymes are very, very specific and don't just grab on to any molecule.
The active site is a specially shaped area of the enzyme that fits around the substrate. The active site
is like the grasping claw of the robot on the assembly line. It can only pick up one or two parts.

3. A process called catalysis happens. Catalysis is when the substrate is changed. It could be broken
down or combined with another molecule to make something new. It will break or build chemical bonds.
When done, you will have the enzyme/products complex.

4. The enzyme releases the product. When the enzyme lets go, it returns to its original shape. It is then
ready to work on another molecule of substrate
Factors affecting the
rate of activity of
enzymes
he activity of an Enzyme is affected by
environmental conditions. Changing
ese alter the rate of reaction caused by
e enzyme.
 1
Temperature
Low temperatures result in insufficient thermal energy for the activation of an enzyme-catalysed reaction to proceed
Increasing the temperature will increase the speed and motion of both enzyme and substrate, resulting in higher
enzyme activity.

This is because a higher kinetic energy will result in more frequent collisions between the enzymes and substrates
At an optimal temperature (may vary for different enzymes), the rate of enzyme activity will be at its peak.

Higher temperatures will cause enzyme stability to decrease, as the thermal energy disrupts the enzyme’s hydrogen
bonds
This causes the enzyme (particularly the active site) to lose its shape, resulting in the loss of activity (denaturation).

The temperature at which the maximum rate of reaction occurs is called the enzyme's Optimum Temperature. This is
different for different enzymes. Most enzymes in the human body have an Optimum Temperature of around 37.0 °C.
 2
pH - Acidity
and Basicity
pH measures the Acidity and Basicity of a solution. It is a measure of the Hydrogen Ion (H+) concentration,
and therefore a good indicator of the Hydroxide Ion (OH-) concentration.

It ranges from pH1 to pH14. Lower pH values mean higher H+ concentrations and lower OH-
concentrations.

Changing the pH will alter the charge of the enzyme, which in turn will alter protein solubility and overall
shape
Changing the shape or charge of the active site will diminish its ability to bind the substrate, abrogating
enzyme function.

Enzymes have an optimal pH (may differ between enzymes) and moving outside this range diminishes
enzyme activity.

Small changes in pH above or below the Optimum do not cause a permanent change to the enzyme, since
the bonds can be reformed.

However, extreme changes in pH can cause enzymes to Denature and permanently lose their function.

Enzymes in different locations have different Optimum pH values since their environmental conditions may
be different. For example, the enzyme Pepsin functions best at around pH2 and is found in the stomach,
which contains Hydrochloric Acid (pH2).
3
Enzyme
Concentration
Increasing Enzyme Concentration will increase the rate of
reaction, as more enzymes will be colliding with substrate
molecules.

However, this too will only have an effect up to a certain

concentration, where the Enzyme Concentration is no longer the
limiting factor..
 The Effect Of Denaturation On Enzyme Structure And Function

The important part of an enzyme is called the active site. This is where specific molecules bind
to the enzyme and the reaction occurs.

Anything that changes the shape of the active site stops the enzyme from working. This is
similar to a key that opens a door lock. It does not matter what a key handle looks like, but if
you change the shape of the ‘teeth’ the key no longer works.
​
The shape of the active site is affected by pH. This is why enzymes will only work at a specific
pH, as well as a specific temperature. Change the pH and the enzyme stops working.

Increasing the temperature to 60°C will cause a permanent change to the shape of the active
site. This is why enzymes stop working when they are heated. We say they have become
denatured.
 Types of enzymes

Intra- Extra-
cellular cellular
enzymes enzymes
All enzymes are made inside cells. Most of them remain inside the cell to speed up reactions in
the cytoplasm and nucleus. These are called intracellular enzymes (‘intra’ means ‘inside’).

In a few cases, the enzymes made in the cells are let out of the cell to do their work outside.
These are extracellular enzymes (‘extra’ means ‘outside’).

Fungi and bacteria release extracellular enzymes in order to digest their food. A mold growing on
a piece of bread releases starch-digesting enzymes into the bread and absorbs the soluble sugars
that the enzyme produces from the bread.

In the digestive systems of animals, extracellular enzymes are released into the stomach and
intestines in order to digest the food.
 Functions of Enzymes

Enzymes help in signal

They break down large They help in generating
transduction. The most
molecules into smaller energy in the body. ATP
common enzyme used in the
substances that can be synthase is the enzyme
process includes protein
easily absorbed by the involved in the synthesis
kinase that catalyzes the
body. of energy.
phosphorylation of proteins

Enzymes perform a number of

biochemical reactions, including They function to
Enzymes are responsible oxidation, reduction, hydrolysis, reorganize the internal
for the movement of ions etc. to eliminate the non- structure of the cell to
across the plasma nutritive substances from the regulate cellular activities.
membrane. body.