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Biology AS OCR

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  1. 1-1-practical-skills-written-assessment AS
    7 主题
  2. 1-2-practical-skills-endorsement-assessment AS
    16 主题
  3. 2-1-cell-structure AS
    9 主题
  4. 2-2-biological-molecules AS
    17 主题
  5. 2-3-nucleotides-and-nucleic-acids AS
    8 主题
  6. 2-4-enzymes AS
    9 主题
  7. 2-5-biological-membranes AS
    9 主题
  8. 2-6-cell-division-cell-diversity-and-cellular-organisation AS
    11 主题
  9. 3-1-exchange-surfaces AS
    7 主题
  10. 3-2-transport-in-animals AS
    12 主题
  11. 3-3-transport-in-plants AS
    11 主题
  12. 4-1-communicable-diseases-disease-prevention-and-the-immune-system AS
    16 主题
  13. 4-2-biodiversity AS
    10 主题
  14. 4-3-classification-and-evolution AS
    15 主题
课 6, 主题 1
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2-4-1-the-role-of-enzymes as

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Exam code:H020

Enzymes as Catalysts

  • Enzymes are biological catalysts

    • ‘Biological’ because they function in living systems

    • ‘Catalysts’ because they speed up the rate of chemical reactions without being used up or undergoing permanent change

  • Enzymes are globular proteins with complex tertiary structures

    • Some are formed from a single polypeptide, whilst others are made up of two or more polypeptides and therefore have a quaternary structure

  • Metabolic pathways are controlled by enzymes in a biochemical cascade of reactions

    • Virtually every metabolic reaction within living organisms is catalysed by an enzyme

    • Enzymes are therefore essential for life to exist

Site of action of enzymes

  • All enzymes are proteins that are produced via the process of protein synthesis inside cells

  • Some enzymes remain inside cells, whilst others are secreted to work outside of cells

  • Enzymes can therefore be intracellular or extracellular, referring to whether they are active inside or outside the cell respectively

    • Intracellular enzymes are produced and function inside the cell

    • Extracellular enzymes are secreted by cells and catalyse reactions outside cells (eg. digestive enzymes in the gut)

Intracellular and Extracellular Enzymes Table

Enzymes table, downloadable AS & A Level Biology revision notes

Examiner Tips and Tricks

Don’t forget that enzymes are proteins, meaning that anything that could denature a protein and make it non-operational (such as extremes of heat, temperature, pH etc.) would also denature an enzyme. This is one reason why homeostasis (the maintaining of internal body conditions) is so important: to ensure that enzymes within the body can function properly, as they are essential to the survival of organisms.

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