Enzymes and Bioenergetics
Class 11 · Biotechnology
4 ideas in Class 11 Biotechnology, explained in plain words, with games and quizzes to practise.
Enzyme Basics
Part of: Workforce
Protein enzymes plus ribozymes span 2000 to over a million Da, helped by vitamin coenzymes and metal ions as holoenzymes. IUB 1964 sorts six classes plus translocase, and LDH runs five isozymes against hexokinase four.
Why it matters. Helper matching plus class sorting answers enzyme questions.
Key words
- Holoenzyme
- : Protein plus cofactor.
- Apoenzyme
- : Protein part alone.
- Coenzyme
- : Vitamin-derived helper.
- Prosthetic group
- : Tightly bound helper.
- Isozyme
- : Same job, varied form.
- Translocase
- : Newest membrane-moving class.
Try it in two minutes
- Pair NAD with hydride.
- Sort seven classes.
- Count LDH five.
Try at home. Explain why vitamins matter in tiny amounts.
Fit and Pick
Part of: Workforce
Fischer 1894 pre-shaped rigid locks while Koshland 1958 flexed gloves around substrates. Specificity runs group, absolute, stereo and geometric, shown by D-amino oxidase and fumarase, all binding in small 3D active-site pockets.
Why it matters. Rigid-flexible contrast plus type sorting answers model questions.
Key words
- Active site
- : Catalytic pocket on enzyme.
- Lock and key
- : Rigid pre-shaped fit.
- Induced fit
- : Flexible moulding fit.
- Absolute specificity
- : One substrate only.
- Stereospecificity
- : One isomer only.
Try it in two minutes
- Lock rigid, glove flexes.
- Sort four specificities.
- Pocket the substrate.
Try at home. Explain why one isomer reacts and its twin does not.
Activity, Kinetics and Inhibition
Part of: Speed Limits
Temperature peaks 40 to 45 with human 37 and Taq 100, pH bells centre per enzyme, substrate saturates hyperbolically, units count micromoles per minute or katals, and 1913 Michaelis-Menten sets Km at half Vmax. Competitive raises Km, non-competitive lowers Vmax, uncompetitive alters both; penicillin and aspirin exemplify blocks.
Why it matters. Curve reading plus Km arithmetic is the numerical heart.
Formulas
- Rate rises then falls with temperature
- Substrate at Km gives half of Vmax
- One katal converts one mole per second
Key words
- Optimum
- : Peak-activity condition.
- Enzyme unit
- : Micromole per minute.
- Katal
- : Mole per second.
- Km
- : Half-Vmax substrate level.
- Vmax
- : Top reaction velocity.
- Allosteric
- : Regulatory-site enzyme.
Try it in two minutes
- Bell temp and pH.
- Halve Vmax at Km.
- Block competitively or not.
Try at home. Explain why high substrate beats competitive blocks.
Bioenergetics and ATP
Part of: Energy Books
First law conserves and converts energy, second raises universal disorder while life stays ordered by eating. Gibbs 1878 merged them into free energy; spontaneous needs total entropy up. ATP couples releasing to consuming processes, yielding 7.3 Kcal per mol on breaking to ADP.
Why it matters. Law contrast plus currency logic answers energy questions.
Formulas
- Energy is conserved and converted
- Universal disorder always rises
- ATP break yields 7.3 Kcal per mol
Key words
- System
- : Defined studied region.
- Surroundings
- : Rest of universe.
- Entropy
- : Disorder measure S.
- Free energy
- : Useful work portion.
- Exergonic
- : Energy-releasing process.
- Endergonic
- : Energy-consuming process.
- ATP
- : Universal energy coin.
Try it in two minutes
- Conserve, then disorder.
- Free Gibbs energy.
- Spend ATP coins.
Try at home. Explain why death raises entropy.
What your child will practise
- Activity, Kinetics and Inhibition: Jungle Puzzle (Clue Puzzle)
- Activity, Kinetics and Inhibition: Jungle Quick Fire (Quick Fire)
- Bioenergetics and ATP: Candy Puzzle (Clue Puzzle)
- Enzyme Basics: Ocean Quest (Flip and Match)
- Fit and Pick: Space Quick Fire (Quick Fire)
- Quiz: Activity, Kinetics and Inhibition (8 questions)
- Quiz: Bioenergetics and ATP (8 questions)
- Quiz: Enzyme Basics (8 questions)
- Quiz: Fit and Pick (8 questions)