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

19931 Views

See similar Biology A Level tutors

Related Biology A Level answers

All answers ▸

What is homeostasis and give 3 examples of homeostasis in the body.


Why can water act as a solvent for ions?


Explain the functional differences between a t-RNA and an m-RNA molecule


How to go about writing an essay in A level biology (for exampe: The importance of proteins in the control of processes and responses in organisms)


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