Explain how an enzyme catalyzes a reaction. Include in your essay the three main
ID: 11134 • Letter: E
Question
Explain how an enzyme catalyzes a reaction. Include in your essay the three main steps of the cycle of enzyme-substrate interactions.•How is enzyme activity regulated by the cell?
Reference
Audesirk, T., Audesirk, G., and Byers, B. (2008). Biology – Life on earth with physiology (8th Ed.). San Francisco, CA: Benjamin Cummings.
Your essays should be several paragraphs in length for each question, be thoroughly paraphrased, and include appropriate in-text citations and a reference list in APA format.
Explanation / Answer
An enzyme lowers the activation energy of a reaction, making it possible for that reaction to occur with less energy. Each reaction has it's own threshold, which is what the enzyme works to reduce. I'm not entirely sure what it means by the three steps, but there has to be a supply of reactants for the enzyme to begin to work. The more substrate there is, the more an enzyme will work. They never get exhausted or depleted. Enzymes can be used over and over. Substrate binds to the enzyme at the activation sites and then enzyme puts the reactants in the same vacinity so that they can form bonds easily. This enhances the reaction because it doesn't just rely upon collisons of the substrate.Once those two things happen, then the enzyme releases the product. Those are the three steps I can think of. I hope that makes sense. Enzymes can be regulated by a few things. They are called inhibitors. There are a few types. One binds to the activation site of the enzyme because it mimics the lock-in-key model of the subsrate. They both fit the lock. This directly inhibits substrate from binding to the enzyme for the enyzme activity. Another one binds to a different part of the enzyme that changes the shape of the enzyme completely. It doesn't directly bind to the activation site, but it changes the shape of it. So when the substrate(the key) goes in to the enzyme (the lock) it doesn't fit anymore. That also inhibits the enzyme activity. Substrate availability and negative feedback loops also regulate enzyme activity as well as pH and temperature. Enzymes must be in their optimal conditions in order to function. They are protiens and can denature if put into "extreme" conditions. Hope that helps!
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