Question

proteins

1. describe the effects that enzymes can have on substrates.

Explanation:

Enzymes are biological catalysts (usually proteins) that speed up chemical reactions involving substrates. Key effects include: 1. Lowering Activation Energy: Enzymes reduce the energy needed for a reaction to start, so reactions occur faster at physiological temperatures. 2. Specificity: Each enzyme acts on a specific substrate (or a few similar ones) due to the active site's shape, like a "lock - and - key" or induced - fit model. 3. Catalyzing Reactions: They can facilitate breakdown (catabolic, e.g., amylase breaking starch) or synthesis (anabolic, e.g., DNA polymerase making DNA) of substrates. 4. Regulating Reactions: Enzyme activity can be regulated (e.g., allosteric regulation, feedback inhibition) to control metabolic pathways, ensuring substrates are used appropriately.

Answer:

Enzymes affect substrates by: 1. Lowering the activation energy of reactions, accelerating their rate at normal body temperatures. 2. Exhibiting substrate specificity (lock - and - key/induced - fit), acting on specific substrates. 3. Catalyzing catabolic (breakdown) or anabolic (synthesis) reactions of substrates. 4. Being subject to regulation (e.g., allosteric, feedback) to control substrate - related metabolic processes.