Q. 16.37 - An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry

Question

a. Write an equation that represents an enzyme-catalyzed reaction.

b. How is the active site different from the whole enzyme structure?

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

(Part a) $\left(\right.$ Enzyme) + (Substrate) $\left[\begin{array}{l}\text{ Enzyme }\\ \text{ Substrate }\\ \text{ Complex }\end{array}\right]$ ( Enzyme) + (Product)

(Part b)  Active site contains the amino acid side chain that catalyze the reaction

Step 1: Introduction (Part a)

(a) We can write the equation that represents an enzyme - catalyzed reaction in the following way 

(b) The active site different from the whole enzyme structure 

Step 2: Given information (Part a)

Equation that represents an enzyme-catalyzed reaction. 

Step 3: Explanation (Part a)

Step-1E+S $\square \mathrm{ES}$

Step $-2\mathrm{ES}⟶\mathrm{E}+\mathrm{P}$

$\mathrm{E}+\mathrm{S}\square \mathrm{ES}⟶+\mathrm{P}$

(Enzyme) + (Substrate) $\left[\begin{array}{l}\text{ Enzyme }\\ \text{ Substrate }\\ \text{ Complex }\end{array}\right]$ (Enzyme) + (Product)

Step 4:Given information (Part b)

The active site different from the whole enzyme structure 

Step 5: Explanation (Part b)

• The substrate molecule binds only at an enzyme's active site and not in any other region of the enzyme.
• The amino acid side chain that catalyses the reaction is found in the active site.