Question
Enzymes are proteins that have a three-dimensional shape that is specific to a particular substrate.Environmental conditions can change the shape of a protein. What is the most likely result if the shape of the enzyme changes? The substrate will change its shape to match the enzyme. The enzyme will no longer be able to catalyze the reaction with the substrate. The enzyme will be able to bind to more diverse substrates than before.
Answer
4.2
(336 Votes)
Peryn
Master · Tutor for 5 years
Answer
The enzyme will no longer be able to catalyze the reaction with the substrate.
Explanation
Enzymes are specific proteins that have the capacity to facilitate specific biochemical reactions according to their unique three-dimensional shapes that corresponds to their specific substrates only. If an enzyme's spatial configuration changes, say through a process called denaturation which is likely due to changing environmental conditions such as temperature or pH, the enzyme can no longer catalyze the reaction with its specific substrate as the 'substrate binding site' no longer aligns with that of the substrates due to a change of shape of the 'active site' of that enzyme. This is on the premise and concept of 'lock and key' hypothesis of enzyme action, whereby each enzyme correlates with its substrate like a precise 'key' fits a 'lock'. Consequently, if there's a change in shape of the 'lock' (enzyme), the 'key' (substrate ) is unable to fit. From the alternatives given meant to suggest what could potentially happen upon an enzyme structural alteration, we would opt for the most appropriate one which best encapsulates the main result of an enzyme's structural change or denaturation.