Enzyme specificity
What Enzyme specificity means in Biology GCSE, as defined for AQA.
Definitions of Enzyme specificity
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Reference: AQA
The idea that an enzyme's active site is complementary to its substrate, so amylase acts on starch but not on proteins or lipids.
Only substrates with a complementary shape can bind, which explains why each enzyme catalyses a specific reaction.
Each enzyme acts on a specific substrate, producing small soluble products that can be absorbed.
The complementary active site of lipase explains enzyme specificity.
A protease active site is complementary to its protein substrate.
Each enzyme has an active site complementary to its substrate.
Topics that use Enzyme specificity
- The human digestive system (AQA GCSE)
Related terms
- Absorption and transport
- active site
- Active site and substrate binding
- Amylase
- Anabolic and catabolic reactions
- Apparatus and measurement skills
- Benedict’s test for reducing sugars
- Biological catalysts
Using Enzyme specificity in the exam
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