Enzyme Activity
Each list begins with basic conceptual vocabulary you need to know for MCAT questions and proceeds to advanced terms that might appear in context in MCAT passages. The terms are links to Wikipedia articles.
Enzymes
Enzymes are proteins that act as biological catalysts (biocatalysts).
Enzymes are proteins that act as biological catalysts (biocatalysts).
Enzyme catalysis
Enzyme catalysis is the increase in the rate of a process made possible by the activity of an enzyme.
Enzyme catalysis is the increase in the rate of a process made possible by the activity of an enzyme.
Binding site
A binding site is a region on a macromolecule such as a protein that binds to another molecule with specificity.
A binding site is a region on a macromolecule such as a protein that binds to another molecule with specificity.
Active site
The active site is region of an enzyme where substrate molecules bind and undergo a chemical reaction.
The active site is region of an enzyme where substrate molecules bind and undergo a chemical reaction.
Cofactor
A cofactor is a non-protein chemical compound or metallic ion that is required for an enzyme's activity as a catalyst (a catalyst is a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction).
A cofactor is a non-protein chemical compound or metallic ion that is required for an enzyme's activity as a catalyst (a catalyst is a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction).
Conformational change
A conformational change is a change in the shape of a macromolecule, often induced by environmental factors.
A conformational change is a change in the shape of a macromolecule, often induced by environmental factors.
Chemical specificity
Chemical specificity is the ability of a protein's binding site to bind specific ligands. T
Chemical specificity is the ability of a protein's binding site to bind specific ligands. T
Negative feedback
Negative feedback (or balancing feedback) occurs when some function of the output of a system, process, or mechanism is fed back in a manner that tends to reduce the fluctuations in the output, whether caused by changes in the input or by other disturbances.
Negative feedback (or balancing feedback) occurs when some function of the output of a system, process, or mechanism is fed back in a manner that tends to reduce the fluctuations in the output, whether caused by changes in the input or by other disturbances.
Isozymes
Isozymes are enzymes that differ in amino acid sequence but catalyze the same chemical reaction.
Isozymes are enzymes that differ in amino acid sequence but catalyze the same chemical reaction.
Protein complex
A protein complex is a group of two or more associated polypeptide chains.
A protein complex is a group of two or more associated polypeptide chains.
Multienzyme complex
A multienzyme complex contains several copies of one or several enzymes (polypeptide chains) packed into one assembly.
A multienzyme complex contains several copies of one or several enzymes (polypeptide chains) packed into one assembly.
Stereospecificity
Stereospecificity is the property of a reaction mechanism that leads to different stereoisomeric reaction products from different stereoisomeric reactants, or which operates on only one (or a subset) of the stereoisomers.
Stereospecificity is the property of a reaction mechanism that leads to different stereoisomeric reaction products from different stereoisomeric reactants, or which operates on only one (or a subset) of the stereoisomers.
Protease
A protease is an enzyme that catalyzes (increases the rate of) proteolysis, the breakdown of proteins into smaller polypeptides or single amino acids.
A protease is an enzyme that catalyzes (increases the rate of) proteolysis, the breakdown of proteins into smaller polypeptides or single amino acids.
Protein domain
A protein domain is a region of the protein's polypeptide chain that is self-stabilizing and that folds independently from the rest.
A protein domain is a region of the protein's polypeptide chain that is self-stabilizing and that folds independently from the rest.
Kinase
A kinase is an enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of phosphate groups from high-energy, phosphate-donating molecules to specific substrates.
A kinase is an enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of phosphate groups from high-energy, phosphate-donating molecules to specific substrates.
Ribozymes
Ribozymes are RNA molecules that have the ability to catalyze specific biochemical reactions, including RNA splicing in gene expression, similar to the action of protein enzymes.
Ribozymes are RNA molecules that have the ability to catalyze specific biochemical reactions, including RNA splicing in gene expression, similar to the action of protein enzymes.
Oxidoreductase
An oxidoreductase is an enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of electrons from one molecule, the reductant, also called the electron donor, to another, the oxidant, also called the electron acceptor.
An oxidoreductase is an enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of electrons from one molecule, the reductant, also called the electron donor, to another, the oxidant, also called the electron acceptor.
Transferase
A transferase is any one of a class of enzymes that enact the transfer of specific functional groups (e.g. a methyl or glycosyl group) from one molecule (called the donor) to another (called the acceptor).
A transferase is any one of a class of enzymes that enact the transfer of specific functional groups (e.g. a methyl or glycosyl group) from one molecule (called the donor) to another (called the acceptor).
Hydrolase
Hydrolase is a class of enzyme that commonly perform as biochemical catalysts that use water to break a chemical bond, which typically results in dividing a larger molecule into smaller molecules.
Hydrolase is a class of enzyme that commonly perform as biochemical catalysts that use water to break a chemical bond, which typically results in dividing a larger molecule into smaller molecules.
Isomerases
Isomerases are a general class of enzymes that facilitate intramolecular rearrangements in which bonds are broken and formed.
Isomerases are a general class of enzymes that facilitate intramolecular rearrangements in which bonds are broken and formed.
Ligase
A ligase is an enzyme that can catalyze the joining (ligation) of two large molecules by forming a new chemical bond.
A ligase is an enzyme that can catalyze the joining (ligation) of two large molecules by forming a new chemical bond.
Flavoproteins
Flavoproteins are proteins that contain a nucleic acid derivative of riboflavin: the flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) or flavin mononucleotide (FMN).
Flavoproteins are proteins that contain a nucleic acid derivative of riboflavin: the flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) or flavin mononucleotide (FMN).
Enzyme repressor
An enzyme repressor is a substance that negatively regulates the amount of an enzyme by decreasing the rate of its biosynthesis.
An enzyme repressor is a substance that negatively regulates the amount of an enzyme by decreasing the rate of its biosynthesis.
Dehydrogenase
A dehydrogenase is an enzyme belonging to the group of oxidoreductases that oxidizes a substrate by reducing an electron acceptor, usually NAD+/NADP+ or a flavin coenzyme such as FAD or FMN.
A dehydrogenase is an enzyme belonging to the group of oxidoreductases that oxidizes a substrate by reducing an electron acceptor, usually NAD+/NADP+ or a flavin coenzyme such as FAD or FMN.
Phosphatase
A phosphatase is an enzyme that uses water to cleave a phosphoric acid monoester into a phosphate ion and an alcohol.
A phosphatase is an enzyme that uses water to cleave a phosphoric acid monoester into a phosphate ion and an alcohol.
Serine proteases
Serine proteases are enzymes that cleave peptide bonds in proteins, in which serine serves as the nucleophilic amino acid at the active site.
Serine proteases are enzymes that cleave peptide bonds in proteins, in which serine serves as the nucleophilic amino acid at the active site.
Lyase
A lyase is an enzyme that catalyzes the breaking (an "elimination" reaction) of various chemical bonds by means other than hydrolysis (a "substitution" reaction) and oxidation, often forming a new double bond or a new ring structure.
A lyase is an enzyme that catalyzes the breaking (an "elimination" reaction) of various chemical bonds by means other than hydrolysis (a "substitution" reaction) and oxidation, often forming a new double bond or a new ring structure.
Enzyme promiscuity
Enzyme promiscuity is the ability of an enzyme to catalyse a fortuitous side reaction in addition to its main reaction.
Enzyme promiscuity is the ability of an enzyme to catalyse a fortuitous side reaction in addition to its main reaction.
Turn
A turn is an element of secondary structure in proteins where the polypeptide chain reverses its overall direction.
A turn is an element of secondary structure in proteins where the polypeptide chain reverses its overall direction.
Substrate presentation
Substrate presentation is a biological process that activates a protein. The protein is sequestered away from its substrate and then activated by release and exposure of the protein to its substrate.
Substrate presentation is a biological process that activates a protein. The protein is sequestered away from its substrate and then activated by release and exposure of the protein to its substrate.
Flavin mononucleotide
Flavin mononucleotide is a biomolecule produced from riboflavin (vitamin B2) by the enzyme riboflavin kinase and functions as the prosthetic group of various oxidoreductases, including NADH dehydrogenase.
Flavin mononucleotide is a biomolecule produced from riboflavin (vitamin B2) by the enzyme riboflavin kinase and functions as the prosthetic group of various oxidoreductases, including NADH dehydrogenase.
Thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP)
A cofactor that is present in all living systems, thiamine pyrophosphate is a vitamin B1 derivative.
A cofactor that is present in all living systems, thiamine pyrophosphate is a vitamin B1 derivative.
Decarboxylases
Carboxy-lyases, also known as decarboxylases, are carbon–carbon lyases that add or remove a carboxyl group from organic compounds.
Carboxy-lyases, also known as decarboxylases, are carbon–carbon lyases that add or remove a carboxyl group from organic compounds.
Oxidase
An oxidase is an enzyme that catalyzes an oxidation-reduction reaction, especially one involving dioxygen (O2) as the electron acceptor.
An oxidase is an enzyme that catalyzes an oxidation-reduction reaction, especially one involving dioxygen (O2) as the electron acceptor.
Folate
Folate, also known as vitamin B9, is required for the body to make DNA and RNA and metabolise amino acids necessary for cell division.
Folate, also known as vitamin B9, is required for the body to make DNA and RNA and metabolise amino acids necessary for cell division.
S-Adenosyl methionine
S-Adenosyl methionine is a common cosubstrate involved in methyl group transfers, transsulfuration, and aminopropylation.
S-Adenosyl methionine is a common cosubstrate involved in methyl group transfers, transsulfuration, and aminopropylation.
Lysozyme
An antimicrobial enzyme that forms part of the innate immune system, lysozyme is a glycoside hydrolase that catalyzes the hydrolysis of 1,4-beta-linkages between N-acetylmuramic acid and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine residues in peptidoglycan.
An antimicrobial enzyme that forms part of the innate immune system, lysozyme is a glycoside hydrolase that catalyzes the hydrolysis of 1,4-beta-linkages between N-acetylmuramic acid and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine residues in peptidoglycan.
EC (Enzyme Commission) number
The EC number is a numerical classification scheme for enzymes, based on the chemical reactions they catalyze.
The EC number is a numerical classification scheme for enzymes, based on the chemical reactions they catalyze.
Glycosidases
Glycosidases catalyze the hydrolysis of glycosidic bonds in complex sugars.
Glycosidases catalyze the hydrolysis of glycosidic bonds in complex sugars.
Dehydratases
Dehydratases are a group of lyase enzymes that form double and triple bonds in a substrate through the removal of water.
Dehydratases are a group of lyase enzymes that form double and triple bonds in a substrate through the removal of water.
Myristoylation
Myristoylation is a common lipidation modification that allows for weak protein–protein and protein–lipid interactions and plays an essential role in membrane targeting, protein–protein interactions and functions widely in a variety of signal transduction pathways.
Myristoylation is a common lipidation modification that allows for weak protein–protein and protein–lipid interactions and plays an essential role in membrane targeting, protein–protein interactions and functions widely in a variety of signal transduction pathways.
Conformational proofreading
Conformational proofreading is a general mechanism of molecular recognition systems in which introducing a structural mismatch between a molecular recognizer and its target, or an energetic barrier, enhances the recognition specificity and quality.
Conformational proofreading is a general mechanism of molecular recognition systems in which introducing a structural mismatch between a molecular recognizer and its target, or an energetic barrier, enhances the recognition specificity and quality.