Table of contents

1. Introduction to Biochemistry4h 34m
2. Water3h 23m
3. Amino Acids8h 10m
4. Protein Structure10h 4m
5. Protein Techniques14h 5m
6. Enzymes and Enzyme Kinetics13h 38m
7. Enzyme Inhibition and Regulation 8h 42m
8. Protein Function 9h 41m
9. Carbohydrates7h 49m
10. Lipids5h 49m
11. Biological Membranes and Transport 6h 37m
12. Biosignaling9h 45m
Review 1: Nucleic Acids, Lipids, & Membranes2h 47m
Review 2: Biosignaling, Glycolysis, Gluconeogenesis, & PP-Pathway3h 12m
Review 3: Pyruvate & Fatty Acid Oxidation, Citric Acid Cycle, & Glycogen Metabolism2h 26m
Review 4: Amino Acid Oxidation, Oxidative Phosphorylation, & Photophosphorylation1h 48m

6. Enzymes and Enzyme Kinetics

Enzymes

Biochemistry

6. Enzymes and Enzyme Kinetics

Enzymes

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Multiple Choice

Which of the following effects would be brought about by an enzyme catalyzing a simple reaction?

The overall free energy change ($\Delta G$) of the reaction is made more negative.

The enzyme is permanently altered during the reaction.

The activation energy of the reaction is lowered.

The equilibrium constant of the reaction is increased.

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Verified step by step guidance

Understand the role of enzymes in biochemical reactions: Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up reactions by lowering the activation energy required for the reaction to proceed. They do not alter the overall free energy change ($\Delta G$) of the reaction.

Clarify the concept of activation energy: Activation energy is the energy barrier that must be overcome for reactants to be converted into products. Enzymes lower this barrier, making the reaction proceed faster without changing the thermodynamic properties of the reaction.

Explain why enzymes do not affect the equilibrium constant: Enzymes accelerate the rate at which equilibrium is reached but do not change the equilibrium constant itself. The equilibrium constant is determined by the ratio of the concentrations of products to reactants at equilibrium, which is a function of the reaction's free energy change ($\Delta G$).

Address the permanence of enzymes: Enzymes are not permanently altered during the reaction. They participate in the reaction by forming temporary enzyme-substrate complexes, but they return to their original state after the reaction is complete, ready to catalyze another reaction.

Conclude with the correct effect: The correct answer is that enzymes lower the activation energy of the reaction, enabling it to proceed more efficiently without altering the equilibrium constant or the overall free energy change ($\Delta G$).