Home / AP Biology : 3.3 Environmental Impacts on Enzyme Function – Study Notes

AP Biology : 3.3 Environmental Impacts on Enzyme Function – Study Notes

➢ Factors affecting reaction rates
○ Temperature
■ Although the rate of reaction increases with temperature, it only does so up to a point, because too much heat can denature an enzyme
■ $Q_10$
● Measure of sensitivity of a physiological process of enzymatic reaction rate

$Q_{10}=\left(\frac{R_2}{R_1}\right)^{\left(\frac{10}{T_2-T_1}\right)}$

  • Temp must be celsius or kelvin
    ■ Same unit for $T_1 and T_2$
  •  Two reaction rates $(k_1 and k_2) $must have same unit
  • Reaction rates with$ Q_10=1$ are temperature independent
  •  pH
    ■ Most enzyme’s ideal $\text pH$ is 7

➢ Enzyme Regulation

  •  Cell can control enzymatic reactions by regulating the conditions that change the shape of the enzyme
  • Can be turned off/on by things that bind to them
               ■ Some bind at active site
               ■ Some bin at allosteric sites (non-active sites)
  • Competitive inhibition
            ■ If a substance has the exact complementary shape to the active site, it can compete with the substrate and block it from getting into the active site
          ■ If there is enough substrate available, it will out-compete the inhibitor and the reaction will occur
          ■ As substrate is used up, inhibitor out-competes the substrate and less reaction will occur
  • Allosteric inhibitors/Non Competitive inhibition
          ■ Binds to an allosteric site
         ■ Distorts shape of enzyme so it cannot function until the inhibitor is removed
         ■ Substrate can still bind if active site is intact, but the enzyme will not be able to catalyze the reaction
         ■ Activators can also be used to stabilize the enzyme’s active state
        ■ Inhibitors stabilize the inactive state

 

  • Enzymes can also be controlled by negative feedback mechanisms
    ■ Product of reaction the enzyme is helping is also an allosteric inhibitor
    ■ Prevents a cell from wasting resources by synthesizing more of a product than is needed
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