Enzyme Lock and Key Interactive
This interactive demonstrates enzyme catalysis through an interactive visual simulation. Students explore how enzymes work as biological catalysts by experimenting with different enzyme-substrate combinations, observing the lock-and-key mechanism in real-time, and discovering a complete reaction cascade where products from one reaction become substrates for another.
What You’ll Learn:
– Lock-and-Key Model – Understand how enzyme shape determines which substrates can bind
– Enzyme Specificity – See why each enzyme only catalyzes specific reactions
– ES Complex Formation – Watch temporary enzyme-substrate binding with visual yellow glow effects
– Reaction Cascades – Discover how products become substrates in multi-step pathways
– Concentration Effects – Adjust enzyme and substrate levels to see impact on reaction rates
– Enzyme Reusability – Observe how enzymes catalyze multiple reactions without being consumed
Educational Outcomes:
– Visualize abstract enzyme concepts through concrete animations
– Connect molecular shape to biological function
– Understand catalysis without memorizing definitions
– Build intuition for biochemical reaction dynamics