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

Previous problemNext problem

Struggling with Biochemistry?

Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video

Multiple Choice

Why can proteins act as excellent catalysts of chemical reactions in the body?

Because their three-dimensional structures allow them to specifically bind substrates and lower activation energy.

Because they are the only biological molecules that can store genetic information.

Because they are always present in high concentrations in all cells.

Because they are composed entirely of nonpolar amino acids, making them highly reactive.

Previous problemNext problem

Verified step by step guidance

Proteins act as excellent catalysts because they are enzymes, which are specialized proteins that speed up chemical reactions in the body.

The three-dimensional structure of proteins, known as their tertiary or quaternary structure, creates specific active sites where substrates can bind. This specificity ensures that enzymes catalyze only particular reactions.

When a substrate binds to the active site of an enzyme, the enzyme stabilizes the transition state of the reaction, effectively lowering the activation energy required for the reaction to proceed.

Lowering the activation energy allows the reaction to occur more quickly and efficiently, which is essential for maintaining biological processes in the body.

Proteins are not composed entirely of nonpolar amino acids, nor are they the only molecules that store genetic information (DNA and RNA do this). Additionally, enzymes are not always present in high concentrations; their efficiency allows them to function effectively even in small amounts.