Enzymes

Most reactions take place in a number of

steps which need to be carefully controlled
if the cell is to function properly
Enzymes are the most important
controllers of cellular reactions

Catalysts
Catalysts speed up reactions without themselves
being involved in the reaction
Enzymes are catalysts made of protein they
speed up a reaction without being used up
themselves in the reaction
Because enzymes are made in living things they
are called biological (or organic catalysts)
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 We learned in the chapter on food that

proteins are made when amino acids join
together
The function of a protein is decided not
only by the sequence of amino acids but
also by the way the protein folds
Most enzymes are globular proteins

Learning Check
What is an Enzyme?
What are catalysts?
To what group of bio-molecules do
enzymes belong?

How enzymes work

Enzymes are not flat they have a 3D
structure

 Each enzyme has its own

specific shape that will
only fit the molecule that
the enzyme is designed
to work on
If the enzyme that breaks
starch into glucose meets
a fat molecule it will not fit
it and will not be able to
work on it

A movie on the action of Enzymes!

Basic enzyme action

Learning Check
Why is the shape of an enzyme
important?
Are enzymes flat, 3D or 2D in shape?

Enzyme Action
The substance that an enzyme acts on is
its substrate
The substance(s) that the enzyme forms
is called the product(s)

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A Catabolic enzyme
Amylase converts starch to maltose
Catabolic as it breaks a big molecule into
a smaller one
It is produced by saliva glands in mouth
and by the pancreas
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An Anabolic Enzyme
DNA Polymerase forms and repairs DNA
Anabolic as it coverts simpler molecules
into more complex molecules
Found in almost all living things

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Consider This
Amylase is an enzyme found in saliva. It breaks
starch molecules into smaller maltose molecules
What is the substrate?
What is the product?
Will amylase break fats into fatty acids +
glycerol? Why?
Is this an example of a catabolic or an anabolic
reaction? Why?
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And This
DNA Polymerase is an enzyme that builds
DNA using tiny molecules in our cells
What is the substrate?
What is the product?
Will amylase build keratin out of peptides?
Why?
Is this an example of a catabolic or an
anabolic reaction? Why?
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 Enzymes work because they have the

correct shape to fit the substrate
They have a complex 3 dimensional shape
to fit the substrate
When enzymes and their substrates meet
and come together they form an
Enzyme/Substrate complex
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Learning Check
What is meant by a substrate?
What is the unit formed when an enzyme
combines with its substrate called?
Give an example of an anabolic reaction
Give an example of a catabolic reaction

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 Enzyme Reactions are reversible

Like a key can open or close a lock
enzymes can make reactions go in either
direction

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 In the following example the enzyme can

break molecule X into Y+Z but it can also
combine Y+Z to form X
X

Y+Z

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Learning Check
Can enzyme reactions be reversed?

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Naming Enzymes
Enzymes are named by adding the suffix
ase to the name of their substrate
Eg.
Enzyme that acts on Amylose (starch) is
called amylase
Enzymes that act on proteins are called
proteases
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Learning Check
Can you think of a name for enzymes that
act on Lipids?
Amazingly enough they are called
Lipases!

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Inhibitors
Inhibitors attach to enzymes and destroy
their shape
When this happens the enzymes are said
to be denatured

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Nerve Gases
The nerve gases we hear of terrorists
using are often inhibitors that attach to
enzymes involved in our nerve
transmissions

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Poisoning people the old fashioned

way!
Cyanide denatures an enzyme involved in
respiration

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Beneficial Inhibitors
Insecticides affect enzymes in insects
causing their death
Drugs can affect enzymes involved in pain
causing the pain to stop
Antibiotics can affect enzymes in bacteria
causing the bacteria to die
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Learning Check
What is an inhibitor?
How do inhibitors work?
Can you give an example of a harmful
inhibitor?
Can you give an example of a beneficial
inhibitor?

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Enzymes at work!
Enzymes work best in certain conditions
Factors that affect enzymes include
Temperature
pH
Substrate concentration
Enzyme concentration
We will be examining these in experiments
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Temperature
At very low temperatures ice forms, liquids
become solids and enzymes cant work
As temperature increases molecules start
to move and bump into each other
causing the rate of reaction to increase

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 Human enzymes work best at body temperature

(37C)
Plant Enzymes work best at 20-30 C
Above certain temperatures enzymes start to lose
their shape the rate of reaction falls
When the shape is fully lost the enzyme is said to
be denatured this is usually a permanent condition
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pH
pH scale goes from 0 -14
0-7 is acidic
7-14 is basic (or alkaline)

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 Enzymes work over a very narrow pH

Most enzymes work at pH 6-8
Outside this they lose shape and get
denatured
The optimum or best ph is usually pH 7
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An Exception!
Is our stomach acid or basic?
Do you think there are enzymes in our
stomach?
Pepsin is an enzyme in the stomach that
works best at pH 2!

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Learning Check
What factors affect enzyme action?
What is the best temperature for (a)
human enzymes and (b) plant enzymes
What is meant by pH?
Do enzymes work over a narrow or wide
pH range?

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Immobilised Enzymes
Bio-processing is the use of enzyme
controlled reactions to produce a product
Bio-processing can be used to produce a
vast range of products such as cheeses,
beer, antibiotics, vaccines, methane gas,
food flavours, vitamins and perfumes
A bioreactor is a vessel or container in
which living cells or their products are used
to make a product
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 Traditionally micro-organisms such as

bacteria and yeast were used but since
the 1900s and especially since the 1950s
enzymes are being used

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 If enzymes are used freely dissolved in a vessel it

can be very wasteful as they are lost at the end of
the process
To prevent this problem enzymes are often
immobilised or fixed
This means they are attached to each other or
an inert substance and can be used repeatedly
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Learning Check
What is bio-processing?
What type of organisms are usually used
in bio-processing?
Why is bio-processing advantageous?

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How to immobilise enzymes

Physical methods
Adsorption where enzymes are physically
attached to inactive supports such as glass
beads or ceramics
Enclosed by a membrane when enzymes
are kept within a membrane
Trapped in a gel, sodium alginate is
commonly used this allows substrates in
and products out
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Chemical Methods
Bonded to a support enzymes
chemically bonded to a support such as
glass beads or ceramics
Bonded to each other Enzymes are
chemically bonded to each other

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Learning Check
Describe 2 physical methods of
immobilising enzymes
Describe 2 chemical methods of
immobilising enzymes

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Advantages of Immobilised
Enzymes
Efficiency of enzyme is not affected
Immobilised enzymes can be easily recovered
from the product so you can get a pure sample of
product easily
Immobilised enzymes can be reused this cuts
costs
Enzymes frequently become more stable when
immobilised
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Uses of Immobilised Enzymes

Immobilised glucose isomerase converts
glucose to fructose which is used to
sweeten drinks

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 Penicillin acylase changes the structure of

penicillin to make more antibiotics that will
fight a wider range of bacteria

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 Lactase converts lactose to sweeter

sugars glucose and galactose which are
then used by food manufacturers

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Learning check
What are the advantages of immobilising
enzymes?
Can you name 3 things immobilised
enzymes are used for?

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Syllabus Can you.......

Define the term: enzymes
State the nature, folded shape & functions of
enzymes.
Explain the role of enzymes in plants and animals
including role in metabolism
Explain the effects of pH & temperature on enzyme
activity.
State the procedure and advantages of Bioprocessing.
State the use of Bio-processing.
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END

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