Enzymes are proteins that help speed up chemical reactions in the body. They often work by binding to target molecules. How do you think the sequence of amino acids in an enzyme relates to its ability to bind to a specific target molecule?

Question

This set of illustrations shows a target molecule, which has an irregular shape, and an enzyme, which has a shape that is complimentary to the shape of the target molecule. The third illustration shows how the target molecule and the enzyme fit together like puzzle pieces.
Group of answer choices

The amino acids change sequence to match the target molecule.

The sequence of amino acids determines the shape of the enzyme, which determines the molecules that the enyme can bind.

The sequence of amino acids is not related to the binding properties of the enzyme.

The target molecule changes its shape to match the sequence of amino acids in an enzyme.

Answer 1

The correct choice is:

The sequence of amino acids determines the shape of the enzyme, which determines the molecules that the enzyme can bind.

This statement reflects the relationship between the amino acid sequence (primary structure), the folding of the protein (secondary and tertiary structures), and the specific shape of the enzyme that allows it to interact with and bind to its target molecules (substrates) effectively. Each enzyme has a specific active site formed by its unique sequence of amino acids, which is complementary to the shape of the target molecule, facilitating the enzyme's function.