Enzymes are biological molecules (proteins) that allow certain chemical reactions to take place much quicker than reactions would occur on their own. Enzymes function as catalyst, which means they speed up reactions by providing an alternative reaction pathway of lower activation energy (cite). Each step of a pathway typically requires a specific enzyme, without the specific enzyme, the pathway can not be completed. In addition, enzymes do not undergo permanent reactions and remain unchanged by the end of the reaction.
Enzymes catalyze chemical reactions by lowering activation energy barriers and converting substrate molecules to products. Enzymes promote chemical reactions by bringing substrates together in an optimal orientation, thus creating an ideal chemical environment for the reaction to occur (cite). Enzymes bind with chemical reactants called substrates. Depending on the enzyme, there may be one or more substrates. In a single-reactant substrate is broken down into multiple products. Two substrates come together to make a larger molecule. In some cases, two …show more content…
Increasing the temperature generally increases the rate of reactivity because molecules are moving more quickly and are more likely to collide. However, increasing and decreasing the temperature outside of the optimal range can affect the chemical bonds within the enzyme and change its shape. If the shape of the enzyme is altered, the active site will no longer bind to the appropriate substrate, resulting in a decrease in the rate of reaction. Dramatic changes in temperature and pH can denature an enzyme, therefore terminating its action as a catalyst. “ For more than a century, the activity of enzymes has been related to their structure; the lock-and-key” and “induced-fit,” hypotheses have suggested that the structural interactions between enzymes and the substrates play a role in enzyme catalysis”
Enzymes catalyze chemical reactions by lowering activation energy barriers and converting substrate molecules to products. Enzymes promote chemical reactions by bringing substrates together in an optimal orientation, thus creating an ideal chemical environment for the reaction to occur (cite). Enzymes bind with chemical reactants called substrates. Depending on the enzyme, there may be one or more substrates. In a single-reactant substrate is broken down into multiple products. Two substrates come together to make a larger molecule. In some cases, two …show more content…
Increasing the temperature generally increases the rate of reactivity because molecules are moving more quickly and are more likely to collide. However, increasing and decreasing the temperature outside of the optimal range can affect the chemical bonds within the enzyme and change its shape. If the shape of the enzyme is altered, the active site will no longer bind to the appropriate substrate, resulting in a decrease in the rate of reaction. Dramatic changes in temperature and pH can denature an enzyme, therefore terminating its action as a catalyst. “ For more than a century, the activity of enzymes has been related to their structure; the lock-and-key” and “induced-fit,” hypotheses have suggested that the structural interactions between enzymes and the substrates play a role in enzyme catalysis”