Enzymes

What is an Enzyme?

• Enzymes are types of Proteins!• They end in “ase”• They speed up chemical reactions…– Also Known As CATALYST

What They Do!• They speed up reactions by binding to other

molecules– Molecules are called the SUBSTRATE

• The place where the enzyme binds is called the active site

• The energy needed for the reaction to happen is called the activation energy

Properties of Enzymes

• They are specific– Enzymes only bind to certain molecules

• They are reusable– Do not break apart (they are unchanged!)

• They are affected by temperature and pH– If temperature and/or pH changes too much, the

enzyme can break apart

Restriction Enzymes

• Enzymes that cut DNA molecules at a specific place