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

Question

Accepted Answer

Hi and welcome back. Our next problem set. Which statement or statements is or are correct regarding the active site compared to the whole enzyme structure. And we have four statements and rather than read them all out twice, let's read each one and evaluate as we go along. Recalling that we're comparing the function of the active side of the enzyme. So where the substrate binds to the entire structure of the enzyme enzymes are proteins. So they have that three dimensional shape from being folded, but only a specific area of them is the active site. Then there's all the rest of the protein. So what do we know about the function of each of these parts? So let's look at statement. One says the active site is the specific part of the enzyme where substrate binding and catalysis occur while the whole enzyme structure includes additional regions that provide stability and regulatory functions. Well, this statement is correct. It's our first one. So we'll put a dot here just in case there's something better. But this is most likely going to be our answer. The active site you have substrate binding. It's very specific. The that is essentially what catalyzes the reaction by stabilizing the intermediate state. But you have all these other regions of your protein, that's your enzyme. And they do have things that allosteric sites that help regulate the activity. They have very structural do do structural domains that just keep the whole structure stable. Then statement two, the active site is responsible for enzyme stability and regulation. While the whole enzyme structure is only involved in catalysis. Well, this is backwards. So we will cross that out. It's the um active site that is involved in catalysis. Act toy there and the whole enzyme is responsible for enzyme stability and regulation. Write that on their whole enzyme on the first part. So choice b definitely incorrect or choice two, I should say. Then number three says the whole enzyme structure is solely responsible for the catalytic reaction. While the active site merely stabilizes the enzyme substrate complex. Well, the active site does stabilize the enzyme substrate complex but that is what causes it to catalyze the reaction. So number three is incorrect. And then finally, number four, the whole enzyme structure can be described as a single uniform region. Whereas the act toy is a complex multifunctional area within the enzyme. Well, this is not correct. The whole enzyme structure is not a single uniform region but has different regions of the protein just like any protein. So number four incorrect. So as our instinct told us when we walked through these earlier statement. One is correct when talking about the active site versus the whole enzyme. The active site is a specific part of the enzyme where substrate binding catalysis occur. While the whole enzyme structure includes additional regions that provide stability and regulatory functions. See you in the next video.

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

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Key Concepts

Active Site

Enzyme Structure

Enzyme-Substrate Specificity