Textbook Question
Define enzyme, and describe enzyme action.
3. Energy & Cell Processes
Enzymes
5:05 minutesProblem 31
Textbook Question
A certain reaction pathway consists of four steps. How would decreasing the amount of enzyme that catalyzes the second step affect the amount of product produced at the end of the pathway?
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the role of enzymes in biochemical pathways: Enzymes act as catalysts that speed up specific reactions by lowering the activation energy required for the reaction to occur. Without sufficient enzyme activity, the reaction rate decreases.
Identify the sequential nature of the pathway: In a reaction pathway, the product of one step often serves as the substrate for the next step. If the second step is slowed down due to reduced enzyme availability, the intermediate product from the first step will accumulate, and the subsequent steps will be delayed or limited.
Consider the bottleneck effect: Decreasing the amount of enzyme for the second step creates a bottleneck in the pathway. This means that the overall rate of the pathway is constrained by the slowest step, which in this case is the second step.
Analyze the impact on the final product: Since the second step is slowed down, the production of intermediates required for the third and fourth steps will be reduced. This ultimately leads to a decrease in the amount of final product produced at the end of the pathway.
Relate enzyme concentration to reaction efficiency: To restore or optimize the production of the final product, the concentration of the enzyme catalyzing the second step would need to be increased, ensuring that the pathway proceeds efficiently without bottlenecks.
Verified video answer for a similar problem:This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above
Video duration:
5mWas this helpful?
Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Enzyme Kinetics
Enzyme kinetics refers to the study of the rates of enzyme-catalyzed reactions. It involves understanding how various factors, such as substrate concentration and enzyme availability, influence the speed of a reaction. A decrease in enzyme concentration typically leads to a slower reaction rate, which can significantly impact the overall production of the final product in a multi-step pathway.
Recommended video:
02:55
Enzymes
Rate-Limiting Step
In a multi-step reaction pathway, the rate-limiting step is the slowest step that determines the overall rate of the reaction. If the second step is rate-limiting and the enzyme concentration for this step is decreased, it will slow down the entire pathway, leading to a reduced amount of product formed. Understanding which step is rate-limiting is crucial for predicting how changes in enzyme levels will affect product yield.
Recommended video:
3:15Glomerular Filtration Rate
Feedback Inhibition
Feedback inhibition is a regulatory mechanism where the end product of a metabolic pathway inhibits an earlier step in the pathway. This process helps maintain homeostasis within the cell. If the second step's enzyme is decreased, it may lead to an accumulation of intermediates, which could either enhance or inhibit the activity of other enzymes in the pathway, further influencing the final product yield.
Recommended video:
05:03Enzyme Inhibition
Related Videos
Related Practice