Microbial Metabolism

Enzymes – its mechanism of Enzymatic Action

Allyster Jake Clemente| Emma Sios-e | Eastern Visayas State University

What is Enzyme?

• Enzymes (/ˈɛnzaɪmz/) are proteins that act as biological catalysts

 (biocatalysts). Catalysts accelerate chemical reactions. The
molecules upon which enzymes may act are called substrates,
and the enzyme converts the substrates into different molecules
known as products. Almost all metabolic processes in the cell
 need enzyme catalysis in order to occur at rates fast enough to
sustain life.
Size of an Enzyme

• The majority of enzyme protein molecules have a molecular

weight within the range of 20-160,000 kDa; which converted
to nanometers corresponds to a globular diameter of
approximately 3-7 nm.
Functions of Enzyme

• Enzymes create chemical reactions in the body. They

actually speed up the rate of a chemical reaction to help
support life. The enzymes in your body help to perform
very important tasks. These include building muscle,
destroying toxins, and breaking down food particles
during digestion.
Life without Enzymes

• According to Dr. Richard Wolfenden, Alumni Distinguished

Professor of Biochemistry & Biophysics, and member of the
National Academy of Sciences, and co-author Charles
Lewis, PhD - without enzymes, it would take 2.3 billion years
to complete vital biological transformation.
• Enzymes – a biocatalyst that speeds up the process of
chemical reaction.
• Coenzymes - A coenzyme is an organic non-protein
compound that binds with an enzyme to catalyze a reaction.
• Substrates - In biochemistry, the substrate is a molecule upon which an 
enzyme acts. Enzymes catalyze chemical reactions involving the
substrate(s). In the case of a single substrate, the substrate bonds with the
enzyme active site, and an enzyme-substrate complex is formed.
Enzymes – its mechanism of Enzymatic Action
Enzyme Classification
Enzymes and Products

Lactase – also found in the small intestine, breaks lactose, the sugar in
milk, into glucose and galactose.

Amylase – helps change starches into sugars. Amylase is found in

saliva.

Lipases – a group of enzymes that help digest fats in the gut.

DNA polymerase – synthesize DNA from deoxyribonucleotides.

Trypsin – found in the small intestine, breaks proteins down into amino
acids.
Examples of Coenzymes
Examples of Substrate

• Carbohydrates like glucose, sucrose, starch act substrates for enzymes like salivary amylase,
maltase.

• Amino acids, peptides, proteins act as substrates for enzymes trypsin, chymotrypsin, etc.
These proteins are present in grams, the meat we eat.

• Fatty acids act as a substrate for lipase enzyme by the synthesis in the body.

• Nucleic acids DNA and RNA are substrates for nuclease enzyme.

• Ethyl alcohol breaks down by the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase.

• Lactose is a sugar whose production takes place in milk. Mammals typically produce milk
for their offspring. It contains a blend of fats, proteins, and growth hormones to get a young
mammal to gain a lot of weight in a short amount of time.