Enzymes are globular proteins that biologically catalyze exothermic spontaneous reactions. Enzymes put strain on the bonds of substrates or, reactants, at the active site; an area on an enzyme where the substrate attaches and the catalyzed reaction occurs. For this chemical reaction to occur, the enzyme alters its shape so that it can fit more tightly around the substrate molecule, this is called induced fit. In doing so, the enzyme lowers activation energy and speeds up the reaction. While the amount of enzyme determines the reaction rate, the amount of substrate determines the product. From the Reaction Rate v. pH graph, we can conclude that as pH increases, reaction rate increases. Every enzyme has an optimal pH range, but when an enzyme reaches a pH outside of its range, it will irreversably denature. The pH level of a substance can have multiple effects on the structure of enzymes. When pH affects the ionization state of an acidic or basic amino acid, the state of ionization in a protein is altered and the ionic bonds that determine the 3-D shape of the protein can be altered (Acidic proteins have COOH functional groups and Basic proteins have amine functional groups). This leads to the denaturation of enzymes. A change in pH not only affects the structure of an enzyme but it can also change the shape or charge of the substrate so that the …show more content…
However, the amount of active sites available is limited. As enzyme increases the rate of reaction it lowers the activation energy. Enzymes do this by binding the substrate to the active site and creating an enzyme substrate complex. By doing this, the enzyme is performing a process called induced fit where it alters its shape to fit tightly around the substrate molecule. The enzyme substrate complex then enters a transitional state where the enzyme breaks apart, and the substrate goes into an exergonic reaction, forming the