BIOD171 Problem Set 2.19
.pdf
School
CUNY Hunter College**We aren't endorsed by this school
Course
BIOL 23000
Subject
Biology
Date
Dec 18, 2024
Pages
1
Uploaded by LieutenantValorKudu36
Question 19 0/0pts What determines the specificity of an enzyme? Your Answer: The active site. The structure of the active site is determined by the protein's amino acid composition, which then influences the enzyme's fold, shape, and appearance. The specificity of an enzyme is heavily influenced by its active site —a unique chemical structure bound only by select target molecules. The structure is influenced by the amino acid composition of the protein as this in turn influences the fold, shape and ‘appearance’ of the enzyme. The active site (and it's target protein) can be thought of as a lock-and-key relationship. The active site provides a specificity (like a lock) that only specific target proteins can bind—much like how only a specific key will fit into, unlock and ‘activate’ a lock.
