Multiple Choice
Which type of biomolecule is primarily digested by the enzyme amylase?
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6. Enzymes and Enzyme Kinetics
Enzymes
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If all enzymes in a cell were to function at half their usual speed, which of the following would most likely occur?
A
Enzyme specificity for substrates would increase.
B
The cell would produce twice as much ATP as normal.
C
The overall rate of metabolic reactions would decrease, slowing down cellular processes.
D
The activation energy required for reactions would be reduced further.
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the role of enzymes in cellular processes: Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions by lowering the activation energy required for the reaction to occur. They do not change the equilibrium of the reaction but increase the rate at which equilibrium is reached.
Analyze the impact of enzymes functioning at half their usual speed: If enzymes work slower, the rate of catalyzed reactions will decrease, leading to a slower overall rate of metabolic reactions in the cell.
Consider enzyme specificity: Enzyme specificity refers to the ability of an enzyme to bind to a specific substrate. This property is determined by the enzyme's active site structure and is not directly affected by the speed at which the enzyme functions.
Evaluate ATP production: ATP production is dependent on metabolic pathways such as glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation. If enzymes in these pathways function at half their speed, ATP production would decrease rather than increase.
Assess activation energy: Enzymes lower the activation energy required for reactions, but their speed does not further reduce the activation energy. The activation energy remains constant regardless of the enzyme's rate of function.
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