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Enzymes Mechanism of Enzyme Action
Enzymes Mechanism of Enzyme Action
First two digits represents type of reaction it catalyzed, last two digits represents substrate which enzyme
acts.
Properties of enzymes
1. Enzyme is specialized protein
It exhibit all properties of proteins
2. Colloidal nature : Due to large size of molecules
3. Catalytic property
Enzymes are very efficient catalyst. Only small amount of enzymes is enough to convert large
quantity of substrate in product. It Speed up reaction by 106 - 1012 times greater than those of
the corresponding un catalyzed reactions
4. Specific
Enzymes are more specific toward their substrates and for the type of reactions that catalyze.
Enzymes shows 3 types of specificity
a. Specific specificity
Some enzymes act on only one substrate
e.g. Urease acts only on urea.
b. Group specificity
Catalyze the reaction of structurally related groups only
Amylase hydrolyses the group of substances like starch, dextrin and glycogen, which have the same
type of glycosidic linkages (α1,4).
c. Optical Specificity
The enzymes acts on only one of the two optical isomers of a compound
For example L-amino acid oxidase acts only on L-amino acid but not on its D-form of amino acid.
5. Heat sensitivity ( note )
Enzyme is very sensitive to heat. Optimum temperature for enzyme action is 35-37 degree
centigrade’s. The enzymes activity decreases below or above this temperature due to denaturation.
6. pH sensitivity
Enzyme is dependent upon the pH of where the reaction is taking place, e.g. pepsin in the stomach
has an optimum pH of about pH2, Whereas salivary amylase has an optimum pH of about 7. 4.
7. Reversibility of reaction
Enzymes are capable of bringing reversion in a chemical reaction
Function of enzymes
1) To accelerate or retard or bring about reaction
2) Regulate reaction
3) To make possible the metabolic reactions
4) To facilitate reaction
5) To break down larger molecule to small molecule
6) To carry out flow of reaction smoothly
a. Michaelis-Menton Hypothesis
The theory postulates that the enzymes has number of active sites where the substrate is bounded to form
weak enzyme substrate complex (S). This enyzme-substrate complex, on hydrolysis, decomposes to yield
the reaction product (P) and the free enzyme (E). These reactions may be symbolically represented as
follows:
[S] + [E] ----------> [ES] ---------> P+[E]