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Date November 2018 Marks available 3 Reference code 18N.3.hl.TZ0.8
Level HL Paper 3 Time zone TZ0
Command term Explain Question number 8 Adapted from N/A

Question

Enzymes are mainly globular proteins.

Describe the interaction responsible for the secondary structure of a protein.

[2]
a.

Explain the action of an enzyme and state one of its limitations.

[3]
b.

Contrast the actions of non-competitive and competitive inhibitors of an enzyme and state their effects on the maximum rate of reaction, Vmax, and the Michaelis–Menten constant, Km.

[4]
c.

Markscheme

hydrogen bonding ✔

between C=O and H–N «groups» ✔

 

Accept a diagram which shows hydrogen bonding for M1 and which shows the interaction between O of C=O and H of NH groups for M2.

Accept “between amido/amide/carboxamide” but not “between amino/amine” for M2.

a.

Enzyme action:

Any two of:

substrate binds to active site ✔

weakens bonds in substrate ✔

 

lowers activation energy

OR

provides alternate pathway ✔

 

increases rate of reaction

OR

acts as catalyst ✔

 

substrate specific ✔

 

Limitation:

Any one of:

temperature dependent ✔

pH dependent ✔

can be sensitive to heavy metal ions ✔

sensitive to denaturation ✔

can be inhibited ✔

substrate specific ✔

 

Accept “favourable orientation/conformation of the substrate «enforced by enzyme»” for M1.

Do not accept “substrate specific” as both an enzyme action and a limitation.

b.

 

Award [1] for each action.

Award [1] for any two effects stated correctly.

Award [2 max] if both actions and effects are switched to incorrect inhibitor types.

c.

Examiners report

[N/A]
a.
[N/A]
b.
[N/A]
c.

Syllabus sections

Options » B: Biochemistry » B.2 Proteins and enzymes
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