Which of these statements regarding enzymes is true

Which of these statements regarding enzymes is true? Check all that apply

Enzymes affect the Gibb’s free energy of an equation

Enzymes are subject to competitive and non-competitive regulation

Enzymes use activation energy to drive the reactions they catalyze

Enzymes display specificity for certain molecules with which they interact.

Enzymes are proteins that function as catalysts.

The Correct Answer and Explanation is :

The true statements regarding enzymes are:

1. Enzymes are subject to competitive and non-competitive regulation.
2. Enzymes display specificity for certain molecules with which they interact.
3. Enzymes are proteins that function as catalysts.

Here’s an explanation for each statement:

1. Enzymes are subject to competitive and non-competitive regulation:
   This is true. Enzymes can be regulated by molecules that influence their activity. Competitive inhibition occurs when a molecule competes with the substrate for the active site of the enzyme. In contrast, non-competitive inhibition happens when a molecule binds to an enzyme at a site other than the active site, changing its shape and reducing its catalytic activity. Both types of regulation are essential for the control of metabolic pathways within cells.
2. Enzymes display specificity for certain molecules with which they interact:
   Enzymes are highly specific for their substrates, meaning they will only catalyze reactions involving particular molecules. This specificity is due to the precise fit between the enzyme’s active site and the substrate. This is often described by the “lock-and-key” model, where the enzyme (lock) has a specific shape for a substrate (key), or the “induced fit” model, where the enzyme slightly changes shape when the substrate binds to better facilitate the reaction.
3. Enzymes are proteins that function as catalysts:
   This is true. Enzymes are primarily made up of proteins and act as biological catalysts. They speed up biochemical reactions by lowering the activation energy required for the reaction to proceed, without being consumed in the process. This means that enzymes can be used repeatedly in multiple reaction cycles.

Incorrect statements:

1. Enzymes affect the Gibb’s free energy of an equation:
   This is false. Enzymes do not change the Gibbs free energy (ΔG) of a reaction. They lower the activation energy but do not alter the overall energy change of the reaction, meaning they don’t affect whether a reaction is spontaneous or not.
2. Enzymes use activation energy to drive the reactions they catalyze:
   This is misleading. Enzymes do not use activation energy to drive reactions. Instead, they lower the activation energy required to initiate a reaction, making it easier for the reaction to occur at a faster rate.