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Enzymes are proteins that catalyse (speed up) a reaction. They are very specific; enzymes will only bind a very specific molecule (or molecules containing a very specific chemical group). They normally have no effect on molecules that are not their substrate (the specific type of molecule they can interact with).
Enzymes work because they have a specific shape and an 'active site'. The active site is the part of the enzyme that will bind its substrate and it may be charged in specific places so that it attracts and binds tightly to the substrate. Because the active site is the right shape and charge for the substrate, it can bind it efficiently and when it does this it causes the enzyme to change shape and catalyse a chemical reaction. Other molecules that are the wrong size, shape or charge will simply not fit into the active site or will be repelled, so the enzyme doesn't affect them.
Some enzymes contain complex metal ions at their active site which help create the right conditions to bind the substrate, by adding a certain charge in a certain place.
Enzymes can be 'fooled' by molecules of a very similar size, shape and charge as their normal substrate. Many toxins work in this way, by being similar to a certain molecule that the enzyme normally binds to. The toxins cause a problem because they are slightly different from the actual substrate and so don't react but just occupy the active site permanently or until they fall out. This means that the enzyme is useless.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoenzymes are biological catalysts and yes they are specific to particular molecul as there is alock and key hypothesis in enzymes there are active sites which have its specific substrate for it to synthesise whereas if the sites are joined with another substrate the enzyme may denature and may not work as speeding up the speed of a chemical reaction.
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoYes, one enzyme will catalyze a reaction involving one only substrate since the active site can fit only one molecule of substrate. That is, if the active site of an enzyme (a region on the surface of an enzyme which converts substrates to products) is occupied by a substrate molecule, another substrate will fail to bind. One molecule at a time.
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Do restriction enzymes cut protein molecules at specific sites?
No. restriction enzymes do not cut proteins. restriction enzymes cut DNA molecules at specific sites called restriction sites.
Which of the following cuts DNA molecules at specific locations?
restriction endonuclease enzymes
What do cells have of enzymes to act as biological catalyst?
enzymes are protein molecules that act as biological catalysts
What do bio technologists use to cut DNA molecules at specific sequences?
Restriction enzymes.
Bacterial proteins that cut DNA molecules at specific nucleotides are?
Restriction enzymes
Do restriction enzymes cut protein molecules at specific sites?
No. restriction enzymes do not cut proteins. restriction enzymes cut DNA molecules at specific sites called restriction sites.
Which of the following cuts DNA molecules at specific locations?
restriction endonuclease enzymes
What do biotechnologists use to DNA molecules at specific sequences?
Restriction endonucleases or enzymes
What do bio technologists use to cut molecules at specific sequences?
Restriction enzymes.
What do cells have of enzymes to act as biological catalyst?
enzymes are protein molecules that act as biological catalysts
A specific protein that recognizes certain molecules?
There are antibodies and cell-surface receptors and enzymes; is there a more specific A. in view?
What characteristic of hormones and enzymes allow them to work effectively with other organic molecules?
their specific shape :)
What do bio technologists use to cut DNA molecules at specific sequences?
Restriction enzymes.
Enzymes are carbohydrates molecules?
Enzymes are not carbohydrate molecules. They are protein molecules.
Are most enzymes carbohydrate molecules?
Enzymes are not carbohydrate molecules. They are protein molecules.
A characteristic of hormones and enzymes that allow them to work effectively with other organic molecules is their?
specific shape
Bacterial proteins that cut DNA molecules at specific nucleotides are?
Restriction enzymes
