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Describe how enzymes work

      

Describe how enzymes work

  

Answers


Faith
For two molecules to react they must collide with one another. They must collide in the right direction (orientation) and
with sufficient energy. Sufficient energy means that between them they have enough energy to overcome the energy
barrier to reaction. This is called the activation energy.
Enzymes have an active site. This is part of the molecule that has just the right shape and functional groups to bind to
one of the reacting molecules. The reacting molecule that binds to the enzyme is called the substrate.
An enzyme-catalyzed reaction takes a different 'route'. The enzyme and substrate form a reaction intermediate. Its
formation has a lower activation energy than the reaction between reactants without a catalyst.
A simplified picture
Route A reactant 1 + reactant 2 product
Route B reactant 1 + enzyme intermediate
intermediate + reactant 2 product + enzyme

So the enzyme is used to form a reaction intermediate, but when this reacts with another reactant the enzyme reforms.
Titany answered the question on September 13, 2021 at 06:27


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