What does heat do to an enzyme and why can enzymes not be 'killed'?

Enzymes are proteins that are polymers made up of amino acid building blocks. When enzymes are made by cells, they are made as a long chain of amino acids that after some time, can fold up to form a specific, three-dimensional (3D) shape. This 3D shape is held together by a series of chemical bonds, such as hydrogen bonding, and it is this specific shape that determines what reaction an enzyme catalyses.When enzymes are heated up, they become denatured. This means that the protein no longer works as an enzyme (to catalyse reactions) as the energy provided by the heat is enough to break the chemical bonds that hold it in a specific 3D shape. This unravels the amino acid chain and there is no enzyme activity any more. Enzymes cannot be 'killed' as they were never alive in the first place - they are simply a polymer of amino acids and are a part of living organisms.

JR

Related Biology A Level answers

All answers ▸

Guillain-Barré syndrome and multiple sclerosis both cause muscle weakness and loss of muscle function. Suggest and describe how the function of neuromuscular junctions will be affected by Guillain-Barré syndrome and multiple sclerosis.


How is air breathed in to the lungs so that oxygen reaches the gas exchange surfaces?


What is transcription?


Describe the structure of the human gas exchange system and explain how we breath in and out.