Notes

______________________________________Overview______________________________________

Enzymes are proteins that speed up the chemical reactions that make life possible.
• Enzymes are proteins that...
• speed up chemical reactions,
• do not change in a chemical reaction,
• are sensitive to surrounding conditions,
• lower activation rate.

_______________________________________Notes________________________________________

Enzymes are a type of protein that speed up chemical reactions.
• Enzymes are catalysts.
Enzymes are necessary for maintaining most of the characteristics of life.
• The suffix -ase is used in biochemistry to form names of enzymes. The most common way to name
enzymes is to add this suffix onto the end of the substrate.
Enzymes themselves are not permanently changed in the course of a reaction.
Enzymes recognize and interact with specific molecules.
• An enzyme's structure is responsible for its binding properties.
• The specific shape and structure of an enzyme's active site determine the molecules with which it
can interact.
Enzymes lower a reaction's activation energy.
• Enzyme-assisted reactions reach a maximum rate.
• all available enzymes are bonded to substrate molecules
Some enzymes need other molecules to work properly.

_____________________________________Vocabulary______________________________________

• Enzymes: A substance produced by a living organism that acts as a catalyst to bring about a specific
biochemical reaction
• Catalyst: A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself undergoing any
permanent chemical change
• -ase: Scientists use this suffix to indicate that a chemical is an enzyme.
• activation energy: The energy barrier that must be overcome for a reaction to occur
• coenzymes:

____________________________________Important!_______________________________________

• Enzymes help speed up chemical reactions, but they do not themselves change as a result of the
reaction.