Enzymes

All enzymes are proteins. They help speed up chemical reactions. Enzymes have unique, different jobs.

Catalysis

Lowers activation energy required for reactions.

Accelerates reactions.

Specificity

Enzymes are highly specific.

They interact with a specific substrate.

Substrate

Molecule that enzymes act upon.

Think of enzymes and substrates like a lock and key mechanism. Enzymes are the lock, substrates are the key.

When enzymes connect with a substrate, the substrate gets broken down or built-up.

Activation Energy

Energy required to initiate reactions. Enzymes act as a catalyst to lower activation energy.

Enzyme Efficiency

What affects reaction time?

pH

As pH approaches the optimum operating pH, the reaction rate increases up to a point.

Enzymes denature in extreme environments.

Temperature

As temperature approaches the optimum operating temperature, the reaction rate increases up to a point.

Enzymes denature in extreme environments.

Concentration

More substrate equals a higher reaction rate, up to a point (max of what the enzymes can handle).

As substrate concentration goes up, so does the reaction rate.

When enzymes are sufficiently diluted, it becomes harder for enzymes to find their key and bind.

Inhibitors

Acts like a wrong key that gets stuck in the enzyme activation site.

Binds to an enzyme to prevent it from functioning.

As inhibitor concentration increases, reaction rate decreases.

Activators

Some enzymes have space for an activator to do its job, and only when the activator is attached, does the enzyme function.

As activator concentration increases, so does the reaction rate.

Metabolism

Takes food and converts it to ATP.

Potential Energy

Stored in bonds.

Kinetic Energy

Active chemical reactions.

Catabolism

Breaking nutrients down for energy.

Releases energy from nutrients.

Dominates between meals, your body has to break down stored lipids/complex carbs for energy.

Anabolism

Building up for growth.

Use energy to build body structures.

Dominates during meals, there's lots of (simple carb) energy available for your body to build and store.

Food (carbs/lipids) are broken down into energy (electrons) & smaller molecules, that energy (electrons) gets used along with Oxygen/H20 to create ATP from food. The mitochondria is where is occurs. ATP is used by your body to do things.

ATP

ATP is cellular energy. ATP is a nucleic acid that isn't DNA or RNA. Mitochondria makes ATP from food. ATP is production is a form of catabolism - acquiring energy from nutrients.

Think of ATP like rechargeable batteries.

When ATP is broken > ADP, Phosphate, Energy.

High energy bonds between phosphate groups store energy,

ADP

ADP is a byproduct of anabolism - using energy to build molecules. ADP gets recycled back into ATP from food.

What Affects Metabolism

pH

Enzymes work best at specific pH levels

Temperature

Higher temperature = faster enzyme activity (up to a point)

Concentration

More enzymes/substrate = faster reactions (until saturation)

Inhibitors

Slows down enzymes.

Activators

Speeds up enzymes.

Exercise

Increases energy demands and metabolic rate

Diet

Provides the raw materials for metabolism