Question

practice: putting it all together (enzymes)
answer the following questions:

1. what macromolecule is an enzyme?
2. what is a substrate?
3. what is an active site?
4. how do the terms enzyme, substrate, and active site relate to each other? you may draw a picture if it helps.
5. draw an example of the lock and key model, showing a chemical reaction that forms 1 product from 2 reactants.
6. sketch two energy diagrams. energy diagram a should be endothermic. energy diagram b should be exothermic. add an enzyme to energy diagram b. on each of these diagrams, make sure to label the axes, reactants, products, activation energy, and enzyme (on b only.)
7. real world connection: most enzymes in the human body work best at 37°c (98.6°f.) what do you think this means then when you are sick?
8. real world connection: in relation to your answer to number 7, pretend scientists discover an enzyme in the human body that works best at 39°c. what processes do you think this enzyme is most likely involved in?

Explanation:

1. Enzymes are proteins, a type of macromolecule.
2. A substrate is the molecule an enzyme acts on.
3. The active site is the region on an enzyme where the substrate binds.
4. The substrate fits into the enzyme’s active site, allowing the enzyme to catalyze the reaction.
5. (Visual: Enzyme with active site matching two reactants; reactants bind, form one product, then product releases.)
6. Diagram A (endothermic): Reactants lower energy than products; label axes (Energy, Reaction Progress), activation energy. Diagram B (exothermic): Reactants higher energy than products; add enzyme line showing lower activation energy, label enzyme.
7. Fever (elevated temp) may reduce enzyme activity, slowing bodily functions; but fever also fights pathogens by hindering their enzyme function.
8. Likely involved in immune responses (e.g., fighting infections) since fever (≈39°C) activates it to combat pathogens.

Answer:

1. Protein
2. The molecule an enzyme acts on
3. The region on an enzyme where the substrate binds
4. The substrate binds to the enzyme’s active site for catalysis
5. (Diagram: Enzyme + 2 reactants → enzyme-substrate complex → 1 product + enzyme)
6. (Diagram A: Endothermic with labeled axes, reactants, products, activation energy; Diagram B: Exothermic with enzyme lowering activation energy)
7. Fever may reduce normal enzyme activity but helps fight pathogens
8. Immune system processes (e.g., pathogen defense)