Enzymes

Main Points:

• An enzyme is a large protein molecule that controls the rate of chemical reactions in living things
• Acts as a catalyst
• Function is based on shape
• Named on substrate (what enzyme reacts with) it is designed to react with
• Ending is -ASE
• Globular protein
• Specific for their substrate
• Reusable
• The enzyme will lower the activation energy causing the reaction to occur

Vocab

• Activation energy: the amount of energy required to start a reaction
• Enzyme: protein performing the reaction
• Active site: the region of the enzyme where the reaction is occurring
• Denatured: when the enzyme becomes damaged or destroyed
• Needs neutral pH and 98.6 F

Reflection:

Before we learned about enzymes in class, I already knew what enzymes were. What I did not know and what I learned is just how important enzymes are. They are used for almost all of the body's processes and are extremely useful. I thought that this objective was very simple, easy, and straightforward. Enzymes are very important to Biology, but I think that they could be used in many other technologies and machines in everyday life to speed up some of the regular everyday tasks that happen all the time.