LondonDispersion

Proteolysis, the breaking of covalent bonds, and proteases all go hand in hand. Proteolysis would require proteases to facilitate hydrolysis and break the peptide bonds in the protein. Hence CharonY is correct in saying, "The quickest degradation is generally due to protease functions." and I would add most common. My input to this thread would be to not forget how susceptible proteins are to heat and pH because of their many H bonds.

I'm new to these forums and I'm gathering from the posts above that we're not allowed to give direct answers to people's homework questions. Very righteous of you all; you're doing them a favor (and I'm not being sarcastic, haha). Izzy_Bee gave you the answer right there ^^. I assume you know that compounds in aqueous solution dissociate into ions. With this knowledge you should be able to at the very least answer your first question off the bat. If you're struggling, repost or message me man.

Generally speaking: Inhibitors are molecules that affect enzyme activity. There are three kinds of enzyme inhibitors: competitive, noncompetitive, and uncompetitive. *Competitive inhibitors (like sulfa drugs and penicillin), true to their name, compete with substrates to bind to the active site of the enzyme they're after. This prevents the the substrate from binding with the enzyme to catalyze and/or complete a reaction. Oftentimes, this halts a metabolic process (as question 4 is getting at). A great example of a competitive inhibitor is penicillin; a well-known antibiotic. Bacterial cell walls are made of peptidoglycans -- N-Acetylmuramic acid (NAMA) and N-Acetylglucosamine (NAGA). Bacterial cell walls are formed by the cross-linking of NAMA and NAGA. In most bacteria, the cell wall is required for the bacteria's survival. Competitive inhibition facilitated by penicillin kills bacteria by competing for the active site on the enzyme that facilitates the NAMA-NAGA linking in the bacterial cell wall, thus preventing the cross-linking of peptidoglycan and this causes the cell wall to weaken, lyse, and the bacteria to die. The paragraph that starts with the asterisk (*) is the direct and simple answer to your question, in case you weren't looking for specifics.

As far as advice goes, maybe we can get you started (without answering your HW for you). Let's look at #2. Do you know what the building blocks of proteins are? Do you know what the building blocks of lipids are? Once you figure out these 'building blocks', the answer to question #2 should come very easily to you. Want to explain to us how much you know about the components of proteins and lipids (fats)? From there we can help you a little further along.

Hey folks! I'm Jared M. and I'd like to introduce myself. I'm an amateur biochemist -- which in essence means I love studying and inquiring about biology and chemistry but, relatively, I know very little. I'm here to throw some of my crazy hypotheses out there, respond to some questions I find and that I know the answers to, to meet other guys and gals interested in biochem & the molecular sciences, and last but not least to learn and expand my own personal knowledge. If you care, here in blue is a lil' about me. My name is Jared and I live in the United States in New York State. Apart from my interests in science, I like playing hockey (Props to my team: Go Buffalo Sabres!), I love playing CO2 powered airsoft and I love me a good game of paintball (I got a Tippmann 98 Custom w/ a 16" ceramic barrel, reflex scope etc.). I love going to raves and clubbing on the weekends when I'm not in school. I volunteer with a local animal rescue group (NOT the SPCA - that organization is an enemy to animals; especially the chapter in Western New York *NOTE: Individual SPCAs are not all affiliated with the national ASPCA), I volunteer with the Red Cross, and I work with the Roswell Park Cancer Institute which is a wonderful institute (my current biology professor worked at Roswell Park and he helped develop the protein drug Interferon which is a miraculous drug in the fight against cancer -- much of what I post on these forums will touch on proteomics including discussions on Interferon and enzymes like kinases etc.). I'm also a very sociable guy so feel free to start up a private chat with me; I love meeting knew people. I just don't care for cynical or unmotivated people so if that's you either fix your attitude or don't chat with me; you'll be a bummer to me I guess that's all for now. Feel free to ask me ANYTHING. Hope to hear from and meet some of you guys! PS: I'll upload a photograph of myself so you can know what I look like, in case you care, haha