1. Enzymes

2. What Are Enzymes? Proteins, with complex 3-d shapes
Have an active site which can bind a substrate (reactants)

3. Help Chemical Reactions Occur
Notice the enzyme is not used up in the reaction!
Only a certain substrate will fit in the active site

4. How?
Allows bonds in substrate to be broken more easily, with less input of energy

5. Another Example

6. Reaction Energy Diagrams
Activation Energy

7. Activation Energy
Input of energy required to break initial bonds and begin the reaction
Even if reaction will release energy

8. Enzymes Lower Ea
Make the transition state easier to reach

9. Endergonic vs. Exergonic

10. Specificity of Active Sites
Enzymes only catalyze substrates with a complementary shape
Any changes to the shape of the enzyme will disable the activity of the active site

11. Factors that can affect enzyme shape
Cofactors/coenzymes
Allosteric regulators
Non-competitive inhibitors
Environmental effects

12. Cofactors/Coenzymes
Molecules needed for enzyme to take functional shape
Many vitamins (coenzymes) and minerals (cofactors)

13. Allosteric regulation

14. Inhibition

15. Environmental Factors
Heat, changes in pH and changes in salt concentration can all affect the bonds holding an enzyme together
Enzymes usually have a narrow range of temperatures, pH and salt concentrations that they work well in
Not necessarily neutral pH or no salt!

16. Denaturation
Extreme changes in the environment cause the protein to unravel

17. Why Should I Care?
Allow all of the chemical reactions required by life to occur at a reasonable speed and at a reasonable temperature
Estimated to be around 75,000 different enzymes in the human body
Examples of functions:
Food digestion
Synthesis of molecules
Production of usable energy forms
Majority of your genes code for enzymes, majority of genetic diseases are due to dysfunctional enzymes

18. Enzyme Song/Poem
Write a song (or poem) explaining how enzymes function and can be affected by the various factors that affect its shape
Can be a cover
It would be awesome if you’d sing or record it 
Solos, duets, trios and quartets are acceptable (no quintets or sextets)