Name:
Date:
Period:
ENZYMES
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:
 WHAT IS AN ENZYME?
 WHAT IS THE FUNCTION OF AN ENZYME?
 WHY DO LIVING THINGS NEED ENZYMES?
Cells are the basic unit of life. All living things are made up of cells. Enzymes help
speed up the many chemical reactions that occur in cells. If these chemical reactions
were too slow, the cell would die. Enzymes are biological catalysts. Catalysts speed
up chemical reactions. The most important chemical reaction in the cell is respiration
(metabolism). Enzymes help cells metabolize glucose to produce energy.
Enzymes are usually protein molecules. Different enzymes catalyze different
reactions. In other words, enzymes are specific for the chemical reaction they
catalyze. The molecule that an enzyme works on is called the substrate. Each
enzyme fits its substrate like pieces of a puzzle or like a key in a lock. Enzymes are
not changed or used up during a chemical reaction, but are recycled so they can do
their job over and over again.
Summary Questions:
ENZYMES ARE USUALLY: ___________________________________________ MOLECULES.
ENZYMES ARE VERY _________________________, ONLY WORKING WITH ONE TYPE OF
MOLECULE OR CHEMICAL REACTION
THE FUNCTION OF AN ENZYME IS TO : _______________________________________ THE
SPEED OF CHEMICAL REACTIONS.
ANOTHER NAME FOR SOMETHING THAT INCREASES THE SPEED OF A REACTION IS A:
_____________________________________________________.
THE MOLECULE AN ENZYME WORKS ON IS CALED THE: _____________________________.
ENZYMES AND SUBSTRATES FIT TOGETHER LIKE A ____________ AND A _____________.
ENZYMES ARE: _______________________________________ DURING A CHEMICAL
REACTION, SO THEY CAN DO THEIR JOB OVER AND OVER AGAIN.