Enzymes - My kind of molecule! They are TOUGH and they are WORKERS!!

Tuesday September 25^th

Enzymes are CRUCIAL in allowing biochemical reactions to occur – How do enzymes aid these chemical reactions?

By LOWERING the activation energy required to start chemical reactions.  Without enzymes our bodies would not perform biochemical reactions quick enough to support life.

Enzymes have three main parts –

*What is the area binds a substrate?

 The "Active Site" - this is a restricted site on the enzyme where a SPECIFIC molecule involved in a chemical reaction bind.

By heating an enzyme up the shape of this site can be altered.  Why do you think this could this have a DRAMATIC effect on the function of the enzyme now?

If the shape of the active site is changed, the specific reactants that would normally fit  will not be able to bind any more.  For instance - take a look at the Enzyme Hexokinase (blue molecule) below.  This enzyme binds glucose (red molecule) specifically.  If after heating this enzyme, the active site changes, glucose will not longer fit and the enzyme will be inactive.

Using the graph below that displays enzyme action - determine which time interval the enzyme initially affects the chemical reaction.

It would have initial action during the 2nd time interval.  This is the point where activation energy is required for a reaction to occur.  The enzyme lowers the energy requirement for the reaction to them proceed.

After these daily questions we continued with the notes on enzymes.  Yesterday we focused mostly on what is required for a biochemical reaction to occur and the role that enzymes play in that.  Today we focused most on the different factors that effect enzyme activity.

**Just as a note - These were Friday and Monday's Daily questions if you didn't get those down!!  They were just wrap ups of proteins and nucleic acids.

Friday September 21^st 

Proteins are made up of what kind of subunits (Monomers)?  Amino Acids

Proteins are very complex and their functions are very diverse – what about proteins determines their function?

 Their Shape and how the amino acids interact with each other.

The last organic molecules we will be looking at are Nucleic acids – what are two examples of Nucleic Acids? DNA, RNA, ATP

Monday September 24^th

Nucleic Acids are made up of what kind of monomer? Nucleotides 

This monomer has three parts – what are they?   A sugar , a base (nitrogen base) and a phosphate group

What are two important functions of Nucleic acids?

Store hereditary (genetic) information - in the form of DNA and RNA.  They also act as energy carriers in the form of ATP.