Question

What would happen to a reactant molecule if it came into contact with an enzyme's active site that matched its specific shape?

A. The reactant molecule would form an enzyme-substrate complex, leading to the production of products.

B. The reactant molecule would dissociate into smaller substrates, which would be further processed by the enzyme.

C. The reactant molecule would be repelled by the enzyme's active site, preventing any chemical reaction.

D. The reactant molecule would undergo a physical change but would not participate in any chemical reaction with the enzyme.v

Answer 1

When a reactant molecule encounters an enzyme with a matching active site, it forms an enzyme-substrate complex, which catalyzes the conversion of the substrate into products. The enzyme is specific to the substrate and is not consumed in the reaction.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a reactant molecule comes into contact with an enzyme's active site that matches its specific shape, A. The reactant molecule would form an enzyme-substrate complex, leading to the production of products is the correct answer. This process begins when the substrate, which is the reactant molecule, binds to the active site of the enzyme. The enzyme's unique active site is designed to bind only with specific substrates, which is why enzymes are highly specific in their action.

The enzyme-substrate complex facilitates the chemical reaction, often by bringing substrates together in an optimal orientation or altering the shape of the enzyme to induce an ideal fit, known as the induced fit model. Once the reaction is complete, the products are released, and the enzyme is free to catalyze additional reactions, as enzymes are not consumed by the reactions they catalyze.