Question

1.What are the steps in the myosin/actin contraction cycle? Why is Ca²⁺ important?

2.Enzymes can effect which free energy change in a reaction? How does this change/effect the whole reaction?

3. A monomeric form of hemoglobin would have what kind of binding curve?

Answer 1

1. The steps in the myosin/actin contraction cycle are shown in the below image.

The Ca²⁺ important to continue the contraction cycle i.e. shown above.

2. Enzymes decrease the Gibbs free energy of activation (E_a or ΔG^*), but they have no effect on the free energy of a reaction, as shown in the below image.

Free energy of reaction = free energy of products - free energy of reactants

The free energy of the product is the same as it would be without the enzyme. Thus, the enzyme does not affect the free energy of the reaction.

3. A monomeric form of hemoglobin would have Sigmoidal kind of binding curve