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Q: biology ( Answered,   2 Comments )
Question  
Subject: biology
Category: Science
Asked by: matchette-ga
List Price: $7.00
Posted: 15 Nov 2003 04:56 PST
Expires: 15 Dec 2003 04:56 PST
Question ID: 276081
Enzymes are noy changed in chemical reactons. If enzymes were changed
or were used up by reaction, how would this affect the rate of
catalyzed reactions
Answer  
Subject: Re: biology
Answered By: blazius-ga on 15 Nov 2003 08:09 PST
 
Your question is answered on  a web page on Louis J. Gross's website. 
Gross is a professor of evolutionary biology at the University of
Tenessee.

http://www.tiem.utk.edu/~gross/bioed/webmodules/enzymes.htm

I recommend you read this web page yourself, as it gives a
step-by-step explanation of enzyme catalyzed reactions.  The relevant
key facts from this page are:

- enzymes are proteins that speed up the rate of a chemical reaction
without being used up
- the rate of a chemical reaction is affected by the total number of
enzymes as well as the concentration of substrates
- in the presence of enzymes the reaction rate is higher, especially
when there are enough enzymes to handle the amount of substrates
present

This is illustrated in this graph:
http://www.tiem.utk.edu/~gross/bioed/webmodules/enzyme1.gif

If enzymes were changed (i.e., became less active or even inactive) or
used up in the reaction, the reaction rate would slow down and
approach the rate for a reaction with no enzymes present.

If this does not answer your question, please request an answer
qualification.  If it helped you, please feel free to add a rating to
the answer.
Comments  
Subject: Re: biology
From: naeslund-ga on 18 Nov 2003 10:29 PST
 
"- enzymes are proteins that speed up the rate of a chemical reaction
without being used up
- the rate of a chemical reaction is affected by the total number of
enzymes as well as the concentration of substrates
- in the presence of enzymes the reaction rate is higher, especially
when there are enough enzymes to handle the amount of substrates
present"

Hmm.. Sounds about right, BUT from what I know, enzymes can also start
a chemical reaction that wouldnt occur without the enzyme being
present..

An example:
Milk fat doesnt decompose by itself, but if you add Lipase enzymes (
from Pencilium Roquefortii for example ) the fat will start
decomposing.. In other words: The fat develops a rancid taste.. This
is sometimes utilised in the production of cheese. Particularly Feta
and Bluecheese.

More info here: 
http://www.foodsci.uoguelph.ca/dairyedu/grading.html#rancid


/naeslund
Subject: Re: biology
From: blazius-ga on 19 Nov 2003 02:06 PST
 
I do not agree with naeslund's comment.  Enzymes can only speed up a
reaction that is already taking place, they cannot trigger a reaction
that does not occur without the precence of the enzyme.  However, the
reaction rate of the non-catalyzed reaction may be so slow that it is
not practically detectable.

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