Enzymes
Enzymes
Enzymes (/ˈɛnzaɪmz/) are biocatalysts that speed up chemical reactions in living organisms. They are large proteins that are responsible for the thousands of metabolic processes that sustain life.
Etymology
The term "enzyme" comes from the Greek words "en" meaning "in" and "zyme" meaning "leaven". It was first used in the late 19th century to describe substances that cause fermentation.
Function
Enzymes work by lowering the activation energy required for a reaction to occur, thus increasing the rate of the reaction. They achieve this by binding to the substrate (the molecule to be acted upon) and forming an enzyme-substrate complex. This complex then undergoes a reaction to form a new product, after which the enzyme is released and can bind to another substrate.
Classification
Enzymes are classified into six main categories based on the type of reaction they catalyze: oxidoreductases, transferases, hydrolases, lyases, isomerases, and ligases.
Related Terms
- Cofactor: A non-protein chemical compound that is required for an enzyme's activity.
- Inhibitor: A molecule that binds to an enzyme and decreases its activity.
- Active site: The region of an enzyme where substrate molecules bind and undergo a chemical reaction.
- Enzyme kinetics: The study of the chemical reactions that are catalyzed by enzymes.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Enzymes
- Wikipedia's article - Enzymes
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