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Substrate (biochemistry)




In Biochemistry , a substrate is a Molecule upon which an Enzyme acts. Enzymes Catalyze Chemical Reactions involving the substrate(s). The substrate binds with the enzyme's Active Site , and an Enzyme-substrate Complex is formed. The substrate is broken down into a product and is released from the active site. The active site is now free to accept another substrate molecule. An example of a substrate would be milk and the Enzyme added would be Rennin which causes milk to set. Another example would be the reaction of Catalase in the Decomposition of Hydrogen Peroxide .
:2 H2O2 → 2 H2O + O2.

A general equation is as follows:

E + S ⇌ ES → EP ⇌ E + P

where E = enzyme, S = substrate(s), P = product(s)
Note that only the middle step is irreversible.

By increasing the Substrate concentration, the rate of reaction will increase due to the increase in likelihood of enzyme-substrate complexes forming, this occurs until the Enzyme becomes the Limiting Factor .


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