Enzyme Effect

Enzymes are organic catalysts used to speed up chemical reactions in organisms, without affecting the outcome. A catalyst increases the rate without being used up, which is why they are used in industrial processes were there is a need for high temperatures and pressures.
   
    Enzymes are globular proteins made up of amino acids which are linked together in many different ways due to the complicated three-dimensional shape. A few of the amino acids on the surface of the molecule fold inwards making a specific indentation. This specificity which is achieved is called the
active site. This is the point at which the enzyme comes into contact with the substrate. Therefore specific enzymes will catalyse specific substrate. Once the enzyme and substrate join they form an enzyme-substrate complex making it possible for substrate molecules to be brought together to form an enzyme-product complex.

    The product is then released leaving the enzyme free to take part in another reaction. This mechanism is known as the Lock and Key model, meaning the substrate has a complementary shape to the enzymes active site. Another more recent mechanism is that of the induced fit model, where the substrate does not actually fit into the active site(it is not complementary) but the active site is flexible and moulds to fit the substrate.
Both these mechanisms are reversible, as all enzyme catalysed reactions.
  A + B   ====   C       If the concentration is higher on the products side (C) the reaction will go from right to left. If the concentration is higher on the reactants side (A + B) then the reaction will go from left to right.

    When a chemical reaction occurs bonds will be broken and formed in the reacting molecules and products. Breaking the bonds in the reacting products requires energy, endergonic, whereas forming bonds in the products gives out energy, exergonic. All reactions start with the breaking of bonds and the energy needed to break them is the...