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Enzymes definitions

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  • Enzyme
    Biological catalyst, often a protein or RNA, that accelerates chemical reactions by lowering activation energy without being consumed.
  • Substrate
    Specific molecule upon which a biological catalyst acts, binding at a unique site to undergo a chemical transformation.
  • Activation Energy
    Minimum energy required for reactants to reach a transition state and proceed to product formation in a chemical reaction.
  • Transition State
    Unstable, high-energy configuration between reactants and products, stabilized by biological catalysts to facilitate reactions.
  • Active Site
    Specialized groove within a biological catalyst where a specific molecule binds and the chemical transformation occurs.
  • Lock and Key Model
    Mechanism where a biological catalyst and its specific molecule fit together with precise complementarity, like a key in a lock.
  • Induced Fit Model
    Mechanism where a biological catalyst changes shape upon binding its specific molecule, enhancing the fit for catalysis.
  • Cofactor
    Non-protein helper, either organic or inorganic, required for optimal activity of a biological catalyst.
  • Coenzyme
    Organic molecule, often derived from vitamins, that assists a biological catalyst in facilitating chemical transformations.
  • Prosthetic Group
    Tightly bound non-protein component, organic or inorganic, essential for the function of a biological catalyst.
  • Feedback Inhibition
    Regulatory process where the end product of a pathway suppresses the activity of a biological catalyst earlier in the pathway.
  • Allosteric Regulation
    Control mechanism where a small molecule binds to a site other than the active region, altering the catalyst's activity.
  • Phosphorylation
    Addition of a phosphate group to a biological catalyst, which can either enhance or suppress its activity.
  • Metastable State
    Condition where molecules are thermodynamically unstable but persist due to insufficient energy to proceed to products.
  • Diffusion
    Random movement of molecules within cells, enabling frequent encounters between biological catalysts and their specific molecules.