ENZYMES

ROLE OF ENZYMES..

Every cell: carries thousands of biochemical reactions

Metabolism: chemical reactions that occur within a

living organism

Anabolism: metabolic reactions that build complex

molecules, ex: photosynthesis

Catabolism: metabolic reactions that break down

complex molecules, ex: digestion
Enzymes:
- biological catalysts that regulate almost all cellular
reactions.
- speed up biochemical reactions in the cells

Biochemical reactions
- occur simultaneously in a cell and in a series of linked
reactions.
- each step- catalysed by a different enzyme required for
its particular reaction
- Substrate: molecules that undergo reactions (reactant)
- Products: substances formed at the end of the reaction
 GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ENZYMES..

All enzymes are protein

- synthesised by living organisms

Enzymes are needed in small amounts

- not used up, but released at the end of reaction
- same enzyme molecule can process a large number of
substrate molecule

Enzymes speed up biochemical reactions

- they are not affected by the reactions they catalyse
- not changed/ destroyed by the reactions
Most enzymes can catalyse specific reactions both in the
forward and in the reverse reactions
- metabolic reactions are reversible

Enzymes activities can be slowed down or stopped by

inhibitors
- ex: heavy metals such as lead and mercury

Enzymes are highly specific

- catalyse one single reaction/one kind of substrate
- have specific sites called active sites bind to specific
substrate
- ex: starch molecules (substrate) fit into active sites of salivary
amylase ( enzyme), others protein cannot
Many enzymes require helper molecules to
function- named cofactor
- bind to the enzymes and help to weaker the bonds in
the substrate molecules
- Ex: Inorganic cofactor - iron and copper
Organic cofactor - water-soluble vitamins such
as vitamin B complex
 NAMING OF ENZYMES..

Derived from the name of the substrate it catalyses

Highly specific- names of most enzymes are derived by
adding the suffix ase to the name of substrates they
hydrolyses.

SUBSTRATE ENZYME
Lactose Lactase
Sucrose Sucrase
Lipid Lipase
 HOW TO WRITE???

sucrase
Sucrose + water glucose + fructose

Some enzymes: named before the systematic way of

naming the enzymes was formulated
Example: pepsin, trypsin, renin
 SYNTHESIS OF ENZYMES

- The information for the synthesis of enzymes is carried by

the DNA
- the sequences of bases on the DNA are codes to make
proteins

- DNA unwinds and exposes its two strands

for the synthesis of messenger RNA (mRNA)
strand
- The messenger RNA is synthesised
according to the instruction on the DNA
 - The mRNA then leaves the nucleus and moves to the
ribosome

- The mRNA attaches itself to the ribosome

- Ribosome acts as a workbench for the mRNA
- The mRNA contains information which codes
for the sequence of amino acids

- This genetic information is translated into

the primary structure of a specific protein

- Each amino acid is bonded to the next

- as a result, a chain of amino acids (polypeptide) is formed,
and ready for release to the cytoplasm
 INTRACELLULAR AND EXTRACELLULAR
ENZYMES
INTRACELLULAR ENZYMES:
- enzymes which are produced and retained in the cell
- can be found in the cytoplasm, nucleus, mitochondria,
chloroplasts
- Ex: oxidoreductase catalyses biological oxidation and
reduction in mitochondria
EXTRACELLULAR ENZYMES:
- enzymes which are produced in the cell but secreted from
the cell to function externally
- Ex: digestive enzymes produced by the pancreas ,
transported to the duodenum for enzymatic reaction
 PRODUCTION OF EXTRACELLULAR ENZYMES

- The nucleus contains DNA that carries information for the

synthesis of enzymes

- Proteins that are synthesised at the ribosomes are

transported through the space within the RER

- Proteins depart from the RER wrapped in vesicles that bud

off from the membranes of the RER

- These transport vesicles then fuse with the membranes of

the GA and empty their contents into the membranous space
- The proteins are further modified during transport in the
GA

- Secretory vesicles containing the modified proteins bud off

from the GA and travel to the plasma membrane

- These vesicles then fuse with plasma membrane before

releasing the proteins outside the cell as enzymes

Ex: pancreatic cells secrete pancreatic amylase outside

the cells to be transported to the target organ
THE MECHANISM OF ENZYME ACTION
Most enzymes- complex, globular proteins made up
of one or more polypeptide chains

3D shape

Polypeptide chains of the enzyme molecule- folded to

form a cleft/ pocket called an active site
Active site- has a distinctive shape and charges that
complement those substrate

The shape of substrate- must fit the enzyme if a

reaction is to take place: highly specific

LOCK AND KEY HYPOTHESIS:

- the substrate molecule :key
- the enzyme molecule : lock
Substrate molecule binds to the active site to form an
enzyme-substrate complex

The enzyme catalyses the conversion of the substrate

to products, then departs from active site

The enzyme molecule- now free to bind to more

molecules of the substrate.

+ +

E S ES E P
enzyme substrate Enzyme-substrate enzyme products
complex

1 2 3 4

Enzyme + substrate enzyme-substrate complex product + enzyme

1 - a specific substrate molecule arrives at the
active site of the enzyme molecule

2 - the substrate molecule binds to the active site

to form E-S complex (unstable)

3 - the enzyme is free to take another substrate

molecule into its active site to catalyse another
reaction

4 - product molecules leave the active site of the

enzyme
 ACTIVITY
GROUP 1: CREATE A MIND MAP ON THE DEFINITION OF
INTRACELLULAR ENZYMES AND EXTRACELLULAR ENZYMES
AND COMPARE BOTH ENZYMES.

GROUP 2: CREATE A MIND MAP ON THE PROCESS OF

EXTRACELLULAR ENZYMES

GROUP 3: CREATE A MIND ON THE INVOLVEMENT OF

ORGANELLES IN THE PRODUCTION OF ENZYMES

GROUP 4: CREATE A MIND MAP ON THE MECHANISM OF

ENZYME ACTION
QUIZZ TIME!!!
THANK YOU