5.

0
ENZYMES
5.2 Activation Energy
and Mechanism of
Enzyme Action
LEARNING
OUTCOMES
a) Explain activation energy in
relation to the function of
enzyme.
b) Explain the mechanism of
enzyme based on Lock and
Key Model.
KEY CONCEPT
Activation Energy
Lock and Key Model
Many chemical reactions don't
happen spontaneously
they need a "push" or the
amount of energy
that needs to be added,
called the activation energy.
Activation energy
Activation energy:
The amount of energy that
substrate (reactant) must
absorb to start a chemical
reaction
This activation energy is often
thought as
the amount of energy that needs
to be added in order to push the
reactants "uphill" to get them
over the "hill"
so they can then "roll downhill"
to yields products with lower
energy.
New energy level of reactant/substrate
reactant/
substrate
product
Activation energy
time
Free energy
Without catalyst/
enzyme
reactant/
substrate
product
time
Free energy
enzyme
Lowered
activation energy
with catalyst
With catalyst/
enzyme
Enzymes speed up the reaction rate
by lowering the "hill"
yield products faster
because the catalyst (enzyme)
lowers the activation energy
reactant/
substrate
product
Activat
ion
energy
time
Free energy
analogy
Lake with
waves
Dry
river
bed
Unanalyzed reaction:
Waves not large enough
to surmount barrier
Without catalyst/
enzyme
The high barrier
reactant/
substrate
product
time
Free energy
enzyme
Lowered activation
energy with
catalyst
analogy
catalyzed reaction:
Waves often surmount
barrier
Flowing
stream
With catalyst/
enzyme
The low barrier
ANALOGY: ENZYME
LOWERS THE ACTIVATION
ENERGY
Uncatalyzed
reaction:
Waves not large
enough to surmount
barrier
Catalyzed reaction:
Waves often
surmount barrier
The basic mechanism:
begins with the binding of the
substrate to the active site of the
enzyme.
forming a temporary structure
called the enzyme-substrate
complex.
Mechanism of enzyme
based on Lock and Key
Model
this causes changes in the
chemical bonds of the substrate
that lead to the formation of
products.
the products are then released from
the enzyme.

Mechanism of enzyme
based on Lock and Key
Model

Enzymes operate on a
LOCK AND KEY MODEL
lock
key
key = substrate
Correct fit, will
react
lock = enzyme
LOCK AND KEY ANALOGY
Mechanism of enzyme based
on Lock and Key Model
Incorrect substrate
No reaction
Mechanism of enzyme based
on Lock and Key Model
Lock and Key Model
In this analogy,
the lock is the enzyme
the key is the substrate.
only the correctly sized
key (substrate) fits into
the key hole (active site)
of the lock (enzyme).
Mechanism of enzyme
based on Lock and Key
Model
Substrate (key)
Enzyme (lock)
Mechanism of enzyme
based on Lock and Key
Model
Enzyme-substrate complex
Mechanism of enzyme
based on Lock and Key
Model
Enzyme
Products
Mechanism of enzyme
based on Lock and Key
Model
Substra
te (key)
Enzym
e
(lock)
Enzyme-
substrate
complex
Product
Enzym
e
(lock)