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Substrates are compounds with an unique shape - also called its conformation. So the enzyme active zone that binds with the compound fits the substrate like a hand and a glove fit each other. Just as a right hand couldn't comfortably use a left handed glove neither can all substrates fit in an enzyme active zone.

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Can an enzyme work on different substrates?

No, because an enzyme is a protein. The function of each protein is determined by its shape. The protein is only that protein and can do its job only when it is in its specified shape. Since an enzyme is a protein, it has a specific shape that is made for one particular substrate.


How does substrate concentration and pH affect enzymes?

Substrate concentration will affect enzymes because substrates are specific to enzymes. The pH will affect enzymes because certain enzymes will work better in certain pH levels.


Why a different enzyme is required for each type of food substance?

Different enzymes are required for each type of food substance because enzymes are specific in their action and can only catalyze reactions involving specific substrates. Each enzyme has a unique active site that can only bind to specific molecules, allowing for the breakdown of different types of food substances. This specificity ensures that the enzymes can efficiently break down complex molecules into simpler forms for absorption and utilization by the body.


Why are enzymes important catalysts?

Enzymes are important catalysts because they speed up chemical reactions by lowering the activation energy required for the reaction to occur. They are highly specific, only reacting with specific substrates to produce specific products. This specificity allows enzymes to regulate cellular processes and maintain homeostasis in living organisms.


Why is enzyme stereo specific?

Enzymes are stereospecific because their active sites are uniquely shaped to fit specific substrates, allowing them to catalyze reactions for only one stereoisomer over others. This specificity arises from the precise arrangement of amino acids in the enzyme, which interact with the substrate's functional groups in a three-dimensional context. As a result, enzymes can distinguish between different stereoisomers, leading to the production of specific products in biochemical reactions. This property is crucial for maintaining the correct biochemical pathways in living organisms.

Related Questions

Can an enzyme work on different substrates?

No, because an enzyme is a protein. The function of each protein is determined by its shape. The protein is only that protein and can do its job only when it is in its specified shape. Since an enzyme is a protein, it has a specific shape that is made for one particular substrate.


How does substrate concentration and pH affect enzymes?

Substrate concentration will affect enzymes because substrates are specific to enzymes. The pH will affect enzymes because certain enzymes will work better in certain pH levels.


Why a different enzyme is required for each type of food substance?

Different enzymes are required for each type of food substance because enzymes are specific in their action and can only catalyze reactions involving specific substrates. Each enzyme has a unique active site that can only bind to specific molecules, allowing for the breakdown of different types of food substances. This specificity ensures that the enzymes can efficiently break down complex molecules into simpler forms for absorption and utilization by the body.


What does it mean when it says enzymes are specific?

Enzymes are highly specific in their action. For example, enzyme maltase acts on sugar maltose and not on lactose or sucrose. Different enzymes may act on the same substrate but give rise to different products. For example, raffinose gives rise to melibiose and fructose in the presnce of enzyme sucrase while in the presence of enzyme melibiase it produces lactose and sucrose. Similarly an enzyme may act on different substrates like sucrase can act on both sucrose and raffinose producing different end products.


Why are enzymes said to be specific?

Enzymes are highly specific in their action. For example, enzyme maltase acts on sugar maltose and not on lactose or sucrose. Different enzymes may act on the same substrate but give rise to different products. For example, raffinose gives rise to melibiose and fructose in the presnce of enzyme sucrase while in the presence of enzyme melibiase it produces lactose and sucrose. Similarly an enzyme may act on different substrates like sucrase can act on both sucrose and raffinose producing different end products.


Why are enzymes important catalysts?

Enzymes are important catalysts because they speed up chemical reactions by lowering the activation energy required for the reaction to occur. They are highly specific, only reacting with specific substrates to produce specific products. This specificity allows enzymes to regulate cellular processes and maintain homeostasis in living organisms.


How are substrates like keys and enzymes like locks?

Enzymes have an active site that is specific for a substrate - therefore enzymes only work when the right substrate is present. The surfaces of the enzyme and the substrate fit together - like a lock and key - allowing the enzyme to fulfil its function. The theory of "induced fit" is more widely accepted - it is similar, but the enzyme shape changes to accommodate the substrate.


Why do animals have so many different enzymes to digest their food?

Animals have so many different enzymes to digest foods because they each such a variety of foods in their diet. Because of this, specific enzymes are needed to digest each type of food.


Why do enzymes only work with the specific substrates?

Enzymes act only on a specific substrate due to the active site of the enzymes fits perfectly with the substrate. Like 2 puzzle pieces, they can only go together and not with anything else. Enzymes catalyze or help a reaction take place. They bind substrates and then help position them in order that the chemical reaction between these substrates can take place. If they bound things other than the substrates they would be much less efficient in catalyzing the reactions.


Why do animals have so many enzymes to digest their food?

Animals have so many different enzymes to digest foods because they each such a variety of foods in their diet. Because of this, specific enzymes are needed to digest each type of food.


Why do enzymes usually only work on one substrate (or group of closely related substrates)?

Enzymes have specific active sites that bind to substrates in a complementary manner based on their shape and chemical properties. This specificity allows enzymes to interact with only certain substrates or closely related ones that can fit into their active sites. Any mismatches in shape or chemical properties may prevent effective binding and inhibit the enzyme's activity.


Can one enzymes be used for many different type of chemical reactions?

yes because it gets substrates that fit in and then when those product turn into more products the enzyme just moves on making more products