How is the tertiary structure of an enzyme important to its function?

The tertiary structure involves four types of bonds being made between secondary alpha helices or beta pleated sheets. These are disulfide bridges, hydrophilic/hydrophobic bonds, ionic bonds and hydrogen bonds. These bonds determine the enzyme's overall 3D shape, including that of the active site. For the enzyme to work, according to the induced fit model, the shape of the active site must be exactly complementary to the shape of the substrate, in order to form an enzyme-substrate complex. If the tertiary structure is altered, an enzyme-substrate complex cannot be formed, and the enzyme is said to be denatured.

JB
Answered by Jessica B. Biology tutor

20479 Views

See similar Biology A Level tutors

Related Biology A Level answers

All answers ▸

How can I score well in the synoptic essay?


What is the process of phagocytosis


How does DNA lead to the production of proteins?


Describe how the sequence of bases in a DNA molecule would be used to form the primary structure of a protein.


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning