Enzymes
Pages 1-12
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/0913250961.001
ISBN: 0-913250-96-1
Abstract
Topics Covered
- What is an Enzyme?
- Structure of Proteins and Enzymes
- Enzyme Activity
- Basic Chemical Kinetics
- Basic Enzyme Kinetics
- Orientation of the Substrate by the Enzyme
- Lock and Key Model
- Induced-Fit Model
- Factors Affecting the Rate of Enzyme Reactions
- Effect of pH
- Effect of Temperature
- Effect of Substrate Concentration
- Enzyme Nomenclature
Introduction to Chapter
Enzymes are a type of protein present in, and essential to, all living things. They have a number of functions in the living cell, but ultimately, they help to convert food into energy and new material for the growth and repair of the organism in which they function. Enzymes act as biological catalysts—they increase the rate of chemical reactions without undergoing any permanent change themselves. They are not consumed in the reaction and can therefore continue to catalyze a reaction as long as the proper reactants, usually called substrates, are available.
