Enzyme Specificity

Enzyme Specificity – refers to the tendency for enzymes to catalyze a specific set of chemical reactions. (Specificity
depends on active site orientation based on its atomic configuration.)

Active Site – is the region that binds the substrates (and the cofactors, if any)
- It also contains the residue that directly participate in the making and the breaking of bonds. These residues
are called catalytic groups.
- It is a three-dimensional cleft formed by groups that come from different parts of the amino acid sequence.
- Has a precise amino acid sequence that is never changed. A change in amino acid sequence in active site
generally renders enzyme into a non-functional form.
- Bond breaking and forming reacting groups are in the active site of the enzyme

Lock-and-Key Model
- The active site has a rigid shape
- Only substrates with the matching shape can fit
- The substrate is a key that fits the lock of the active site
- The amino acid R groups of enzymes help to mediate interaction of active site and substrate
- This is an older model, however, and odes not work for all enzymes

Induced Fit Model

- The active site is flexible, not rigid
- The shapes of the enzyme, active site, and substrate adjust to maximize the fit, which improves catalysis
- There is a greater range of substrate specificity
- This model is more consistent with a wider range of enzymes

Six Distinct Types of Specificity

 Absolute specificity - the enzyme will catalyze only one reaction.
 Group specificity - the enzyme will act only on molecules that have specific functional groups, such as
amino, phosphate and methyl groups.
 Linkage specificity - the enzyme will act on a particular type of chemical bond regardless of the rest of the
molecular structure.
 Stereochemical specificity - the enzyme will act on a particular steric or optical isomer. Also called optical
specificity.
 Bond Specificity – the enzyme will act on a substrate that are similar in structure and have same type of
bond
 Dual Specificity – the enzyme will act on two substrates by same type of reaction