Enzymes are critical proteins involved in the biochemistry of living organisms. They're also really cool!

Enzyme substrate images adapted from OpenStax Biology.

Thanks for stopping by, this is 2 minute classroom, and today we are going to talk about enzymes.

First we are going to talk about what enzymes are, then we’ll discuss how they work.

An enzyme is a protein (in most cases) that acts as a catalyst in chemical reactions in organisms. So it speeds up these reactions and makes them more likely to occur without being used up. It does this by lowering the activation energy. The activation energy is the energy input required for a chemical reaction to begin. Think of the activation energy as the cost to ride an amusement park ride. Let’s say it cost $10 dollars to ride, but with the enzyme (some discount card) the cost is only a quarter. You are much more likely to ride if the cost is only a quarter. Similarly the reaction is much more likely to occur with an enzyme present.

Enzymes are sensitive to temperature and pH. Slight changes in temperature can speed up or slow down a reaction, but large changes can denature the enzyme causing it to lose it’s function. Changes in pH can also cause enzymes to lose their function.

Enzymes usually named using the suffix ase. Some of my favorites include helicase, which unzips DNA strands, ATP synthase, which helps convert ADP to ATP, and Lactase, which breaks down the carbohydrate lactose. Individuals who are lactose intolerant are missing the enzyme lactase, and thus, cannot break down lactose and get sick.

So that is a little bit about what enzymes are, now let’s talk about how they do the amazing things they do!

The chemical reactions that enzymes are involved in require the breaking and or forming of bonds.

Let’s break the process down into 4 steps.

Step 1, the substrate (the molecule or molecules involved in the reaction) is in the area near the enzyme and comes into contact with the active site (the area on the enzyme where the substrate binds and the reaction will occur)

Step 2, the enzyme changes shape forming the enzyme/substrate complex. I know right, super complicates name.

Step 3, The enzyme does it’s magic to break a molecule down and/or form a new molecule. Once the reaction is complete, you’re left with the enzyme/products complex.

And in the fourth and final step, the enzyme releases the products from its active site and changes shape back to its original position ready to receive another substrate.

It is important to note that enzymes are highly specific. For example, lactase only breaks down the carbohydrate lactose and not other disaccharide carbohydrates like maltose or sucrose.

Well, I Hope you learned a little more about enzymes. If you found this video helpful, please give it a like.

If you have additional questions I am more than happy to field those in the comments below. You should know that I reply to nearly all my comments.

And finally, don’t forget to check out my other videos.

I’ll catch you nerds later.