question_answer 21)

What are enzymes? Write in brief the mechanism of enzyme catalysis.

Answer:

Enzymes. Enzymes are complex nitrogeneous organic compounds present in living beings. Enzymes catalyse many biochemical reactions taking place inside the human body like digestion i.e., why enzymes are also called biocatalysts e.g., Mechanism of Enzyme Catalysis The mechanism of the enzyme catalysed reaction has been proposed by Menten and Michaelis and is completed in the following steps: Step 1: Binding enzyme to substrate (reactant) to form a complex: Step 2: Product formation in the complex Step 3: Release of the product from the enzyme complex:  Actually there are a number of cavities present on the surface of the molecules of enzymes. These cavities have specific shapes and contain in them active groups such as etc. These function as active sites on the surface of enzyme. The molecules of the reactant (substrate) which have complementary shapes fit into these cavities in the same manner as a key fits into a lock. This results in an activated complex which breaks to give the product and releases the enzyme catalys as shown earlier.