CIE IGCSE Biology

Revision Notes

5.1.1 Enzymes

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What Are Enzymes?

  • Enzymes are:
    • Catalysts that speed up the rate of a chemical reaction without being changed or used up in the reaction
    • Proteins
    • Biological catalysts (biological because they are made in living cells, catalysts because they speed up the rate of chemical reactions without being changed)
    • Necessary to all living organisms as they maintain reaction speeds of all metabolic reactions (all the reactions that keep an organism alive) at a rate that can sustain life
      • For example, if we did not produce digestive enzymes, it would take around 2 - 3 weeks to digest one meal; with enzymes, it takes around 4 hours

How Do Enzymes Work?

Enzyme substrate specificity, IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

Enzyme substrate specificity

  • Enzymes are specific to one particular substrate (molecule/s that get broken down or joined together in the reaction) as the enzyme is a complementary shape to the substrate
  • The product is made from the substrate(s) and is released

Lock and key model of enzyme activity, IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

Enzyme specificity: lock and key model of enzyme activity

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Lára

Author: Lára

Lára graduated from Oxford University in Biological Sciences and has now been a science tutor working in the UK for several years. Lára has a particular interest in the area of infectious disease and epidemiology, and enjoys creating original educational materials that develop confidence and facilitate learning.