Enzymes are biological catalysts. They are found in living organisms and a catalyst changes the rate of a reaction but remains unchanged at the end of the reaction.
Each enzyme is specific for its substrate, which means that it only works with that substrate.
Active sites:
- Enzymes have different active sites
- They connect with substrates
- Fit like a ‘lock and key’
- These make an enzyme-substrate complex
- Only specific enzymes breakdown specific substrates
Denatured enzymes:
- Changing the temperature or pH of the enzyme meaning the active sight won’t fit the substrate
- This would slow down the reaction