Exam 7: Enzyme Mechanisms

Consider the reaction coordinate diagram shown below for the conversion of substrate (S) to product (P). Assume that a hypothetical enzyme is added that destabilizes the substrate (S) so that it has the free energy of S*, but otherwise the reaction is the same (in other words, it still goes through the transition state indicated in the diagram). Justify why the hypothetical enzyme is a catalyst.

Below is a ribbon diagram of an enzyme. Four regions of the enzyme are indicated. Which is most likely the active site?

Connect the use of v₀ to the ability to treat k _{- 2} as negligible in Michaelis-Menten kinetics.

Many medicinal drugs are transition state analogs. They are good drugs because they can interact with the target enzyme active site and are

Enzymes usually bind substrates with __________ affinity and specificity.

An enzyme is crystallized in preparation for X-ray crystallography. The crystal is then soaked in a solution of substrate and the crystal shatters. Propose a reason for this result.