Question

what is the next step in the process after a substrate enters the active site of an enzyme

Answer 1

Enzymes are defined as biological macromolecules that speed up the rate of biological reactions. 


Substrates, on the other hand, are the biological molecules that are acted upon by the enzymes.

Example of an enzyme and a substrate is the breakdown of casein( milk protein) by renin. The enzyme is renin and the substrate is casein.  Another example includes the enzyme lipase which breaks down fats into smaller molecules.

Active site of the enzyme is the specific place or region in the enzyme, where a substrate binds and the reaction takes place. 

Once the substrate binds to the active site of the enzyme, a enzyme-substrate complex is formed. The enzyme substrate complex that is formed can lead to the following three things happening: 

i) Facilitation of bond breaking - this the enzyme can do by the aligning of the atoms and the bonds of the substrates that are reacting with each other.

ii) Initiate the reaction - the enzyme can provide necessary atoms, ions or chemical groups that are required for the reaction to take place.

iii) Creation of an ideal environment - the enzyme can also provide an ideal environment such as acidic, basic or non-polar for a reaction to take place. 

Once the reaction is complete, the enzyme releases the substrate. The enzyme remains unchanged throughout the process. 

Answer 2

EXPLANATION:

The next step in the process after a substrate enters the active site of an enzyme is that the substrate and the enzyme join together to form a complex, and the substrate undergoes a modification in its structure so that no other enzyme comes and locks to it.  

This after dissipation of heat in the case of endothermic reaction and absorption of heat in the case of exothermic reaction, forms an enzyme product complex which later dissociates into “enzyme and product”.