Question

Describe the specific mechanisms of enzymes function. Pick a specific enzymes and describe its function and the importance of that function of life. Discuss how the loss of the enzymes would disrupt living processes.

Answer 1

An enzyme is a biocatalyst that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself being changed in the overall process. All the enzymes are proteins in nature with an excetion of small group of catalytic RNA molecule. They have a high degree of specificity for their substrate.

Enzymes increases the rate of a chemical reaction by lowering the activation energy ( the amount of energy that must be put in for the reaction to begin), thereby increasing the fraction of molecules that have enough energy to attain the transition state ( an intermediate product whose energy is higher than the combined energy of the reactant). However, the catalyst does not change the relative energies of the initial and final states. It changes only the rate at which equilibrium is achieved; it has no effect on the position of the equilibrium.

Pepsin and Trypsin are the digestive enzymes present in the stomach of our body, where they breakdown the dietry protein present in our food. The food we eat must be broken down into the small components that will be absorbed and utilized by our body.

Many medical problems in the life are linked with loss of enzyme function.

e.g; deficiency of digestive enzyme lactase (breaks down milk sugar lactose into glucose and galactose) will leads to lactose intolerance.

Inherited diseases may also cause enzyme defect that may have catastotrophic effect. e.g; Tay Sachs disease occurs due to genetic abnormality in the enzyme called Beta – hexosaminidase A, which leads to the destruction of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Children born with this disorder usually die in early childhood.

Also deficiency in the enzyme that are involved in glycolysis ( energy generation using glucose) will leads in loss of ATP formation for performing useful work by the body.

They have a high degree of specificity for their substrate.

Enzymes increases the rate of a chemical reaction by lowering the activation energy ( the amount of energy that must be put in for the reaction to begin), thereby increasing the fraction of molecules that have enough energy to attain the transition state ( an intermediate product whose energy is higher than the combined energy of the reactant). However, the catalyst does not change the relative energies of the initial and final states. It changes only the rate at which equilibrium is achieved; it has no effect on the position of the equilibrium.

Pepsin and Trypsin are the digestive enzymes present in the stomach of our body, where they breakdown the dietry protein present in our food. The food we eat must be broken down into the small components that will be absorbed and utilized by our body.

Many medical problems in the life are linked with loss of enzyme function.

e.g; deficiency of digestive enzyme lactase (breaks down milk sugar lactose into glucose and galactose) will leads to lactose intolerance.

Inherited diseases may also cause enzyme defect that may have catastotrophic effect. e.g; Tay Sachs disease occurs due to genetic abnormality in the enzyme called Beta – hexosaminidase A, which leads to the destruction of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Children born with this disorder usually die in early childhood.

Also deficiency in the enzyme that are involved in glycolysis ( energy generation using glucose) will leads in loss of ATP formation for performing useful work by the body.