Catalytic triad

High school (ages 12+)
Human Body

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/catalytic-triad

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is a catalytic triad in enzymes?A catalytic triad is a group of three special amino acids—one acidic, one basic, and one nucleophilic—arranged in the enzyme’s 3‑D shape to help speed up chemical reactions.
2. How do the three amino acids in a catalytic triad work together?They form a charge‑relay network that polarizes the nucleophilic residue, making it ready to attack the substrate and create a short‑lived bond that is then broken to release the product.

Charge-Relay Network: A system of amino acid residues within an enzyme that facilitates the transfer of charge to activate a catalytic residue.
Nucleophilic Attack: A chemical reaction where an electron-rich nucleophile attacks an electron-deficient atom, typically forming a new covalent bond.
Convergent Evolution: The independent evolution of similar features or traits in different species or lineages.