Biological Catalyst-Enzyme | Nomenclature of Enzyme

An enzyme is a biologically active protein that accelerates a specific chemical reaction by increasing the efficiency of the reaction.

Biological Catalyst-Enzyme

Enzymes are proteins that catalyze (speed up) chemical reactions. Biological Catalyst-Enzymes are substrate specific. These enzymes are highly specific and cannot be replaced by another enzyme from a different source. Each enzyme has a unique role to play in the process of breaking down and digesting food so that our bodies can extract its nutrients.

It lowers the activation energy of the reaction and remains unaltered in the process. Most enzymes are proteins in nature. Some are nucleic acids (RNA) like ribozymes. Enzymes have higher catalytic power. They greatly increase the reaction rate at which specific chemical reactions take place.

Role of Enzyme in Catalysis

The metabolism of an animal is controlled specifically. This control and balance are kept by using enzymes. Catalysis is the process of keeping control of the metabolism of animals. Therefore, catalysis is one of the most important functions in life. Catalysis is a series of chemical processes. These processes are regulated by enzymes. the same reaction can occur without enzymes too.

But it will occur at a much slower rate than the reaction that is being catalyzed by enzymes. In the end, the enzyme is released as it is (unchanged). Thus it can be used again and again in catalysis.,

Specificity of Enzyme

An enzyme is a three-dimensional globular protein. The enzyme has a specific chemical composition. It has specific amino acids and a specific shape. An enzyme is highly selective for the reaction.

The reactants of enzymatic reactions are called substrates. Due to this specificity, each enzyme recognizes and binds with a specific substrate. It then changes this substrate into a product.

Other than that specific substrate, the enzyme will not react with any other substrate.

Enzyme Substrate Reaction

The precise “fit” between an enzyme and its specific substrate is a must-have thing for catalytic activity.

For example, cellular concentrations of many reactants must be kept at low levels. It avoids undesirable side reactions. At the same time, concentrations of the enzyme must be kept high for the required reactions. Thus the reaction occurs at a balanced concentration of enzyme that is compatible with life.

The enzymes move molecules through specific chemical pathways. So the metabolism proceeds under these balanced conditions.

Nomenclature of Enzyme

All enzyme names end with the suffix ”ase”. They are named after their substrate. But several digestive enzymes were discovered earlier. They do not follow this rule. For example, pepsin and trypsin.

Enzyme Class	Function
Oxidoreductases	They catalyze redox reaction and are categorized into oxidase and reductase enzyme.
Transferases	They catalyze the exchange of certain groups among some substrates.
Hydrolases	Accelerate the hydrolysis (break down of the chemical bond by using water molecule ) of substrates
Lyases	Catalyse the removal of a group from a substrate (to leave a double bond reaction or vise virsa)
Isomerases	Catalyses the reaction of conversion of isoisomers, geometric isomers and others.
Ligases	It catalyze the synthesis of two molecular substrates into one molecular. Energy releases during this reaction.
Translocases	It facilitates the movement of ions or molecules. (across plasma membrane)

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