Reviewing Enzymes

• - All enzymes are proteins...proteins are also called “polypeptides”.

• - Enzymes are made up of amino acids (amino group + carboxyl group (an organic acid) + “R” group”)

• - held together by “peptide bonds” (bond between C and N)

• - most enzymes end with “ase”

• - Enzymes are “Biochemical catalysts”..... they trigger or accelerate a chemical reaction without

being chemically altered themselves.

• Enzymes are very “specific”.

• Enzymes lower the amount of activation energy required to start a

reaction.

An Enzyme Reaction includes an enzyme, a substrate, and products.

• A Substrate is the molecule(s) acted upon in an enzyme reaction.

• The Product(s) of a reaction are “What you make” as

a result of a chemical reaction.

Coenzymes• Organic molecules that

aid in enzyme reactions.

• Many Vitamins are Coenzymes.

The distinguishing feature of the vitamins is that

they generally cannot be made by mammalian

cells and, therefore, must be supplied in the diet.

Cofactors

• Non-protein molecules, or ions, which aid in enzyme reactions.

• Examples: Zinc, Iron and Copper.