Enzymes Aldolase LN 4 insulindegrading enzyme What is
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Enzymes Aldolase LN # 4 insulin-degrading enzyme
What is an enzyme? l Enzymes are very important molecules in biology. l Enzymes are proteins that help to speed up chemical reactions in the body. l Without enzymes, many of the important processes of life could not happen.
Enzymes l Enzymes are very specific in their function. l Each enzyme has only one reaction that it can help. l Enzymes are not changed when they perform their function. ¡ This means that the same enzyme molecule can be used over and over again.
How do enzymes work? As with all proteins, the shape of an enzyme is what determines its function. l Enzymes have an active site for the substrate. l Substrate is changed into a product. l
http: //www. tvdsb. on. ca/westmin/science/sbi 3 a 1/digest/enzymes. htm
Starch to glucose Substrate Active site Enzyme Product Enzyme unchanged. Can be reused.
Enzymes in Human Body l Amylase is an enzyme that breaks starch down into sugar. l Amylase is present in human saliva, where it begins the chemical process of digestion. ¡ Foods that contain much starch but little sugar, such as rice and potato, taste slightly sweet as they are chewed because amylase turns some of their starch into sugar in the mouth
p. H, Temperature and Ionic conditions Most human enzymes are most effective at 35° to 40°C (close to our normal body temperature) l Very few enzymes will work in extremely salty solutions. l The best conditions for most enzymes is close to neutral, p. H of 6 to 8. l Acid rain l ¡ ¡ entire lakes are threatened by acid rain makes the water so acidic that the organisms living in lakes have enzyme failure.
Summary 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. What is an enzyme? Why are enzymes important? How do enzymes work? What is a substrate? What is the active site? What is a product? What is amylase? What conditions can effect enzyme function?
