The Behavior of Proteins: Enzymes, Essay Example

Description of Assignment

Be prepared to answer the following questions fully.  You will be called upon randomly to answer these questions during class.  You can also meaningfully respond to classmates’ answers.

What are enzymes?

Enzymes are catalysts that accelerate the function of molecules as they are expected to react to each other. This process allows for molecules to be converted accordingly to the type and nature that they are expected to take into account.

How can enzymes be used as markers for disease?

Enzyme testing often involves a close and detailed observation of enzymes found in particular areas in the body. A point of misbehaving within these particular markers may indicate a particular problem that could also relate to blood flow [thus affecting the all body-function.

Will a reaction go faster if you raise the temperature?

A certain change in temperature, may it be high or low, would largely affect the whole nature of the molecular activity being induced. In consideration with raising the temperature, the activity of the molecules would actually increase to at least 50-100%.

What is the difference between: zero, first, and second orders?

Zero order is a reaction that denotes that the changes are occurring separately or independently apart from the concentration of the activities being undergone alongside the presence of the assay factor present in the setup.

In first order, the splitting of constants occurs, thus denoting a particular pattern of systematic error that represents the value of each substrate.

The second order refers to concentration of the equation that basically resembles how a biomolecular reaction is induced.

If you have Rate = k[A]¹[B]², what is the overall order of the reaction?  The order with respect to A?  The order with respect to B?’

The reaction is said to be first order with respect to A, since the exponent of A is one. However, the reaction is said to be second order with respect to B because the exponent of B is 2. The overall order of reaction will be three.

Differentiate between the “lock-and-key” and “induced-fit” models

The lock and key model asserts that the active site of the enzyme is specific for the substrates so that no other substrate will bind and react. The same way one key will open only one lock. The active site and the substrate are complementary. Induced-fit model asserts that the active site is not rigid. It changes with respect to the shape of the substrate to become complementary. This is only possible due to the flexibility of the enzymes that are made of protein molecules.

Why is there an enzyme-transition state complex in Figure 6.4?

Before any reaction can take place, enzyme and substrate must bind to form enzyme-transition state complex. The enzyme-transition state complex in figure 6.4 was formed because the enzyme and the substrate were perfect fit.

Why is the “lock-and-key” model for enzyme-substrate binding baloney?

The lock and key model is a binding baloney because no reaction can take place if the enzyme and substrate are not compatible.

Work Cited

Cornish-Bowden, Athel (2004). Fundamentals of enzyme kinetics (3rd ed.). London: Portland Press.