Enzyme catalysis
Enzyme Catalysis is a process in which Enzymes accelerate, or catalyze, chemical reactions. The molecules at the beginning of the process are called Substrates, and the enzyme converts these into different molecules, called Products. Almost all metabolic processes in the cell need enzyme catalysis in order to occur at rates fast enough to sustain life.
Pronunciation
Enzyme Catalysis: /ˈɛnzaɪm kəˈtælɪsɪs/
Etymology
The term "Enzyme Catalysis" comes from the Greek words "Enzyme" meaning "in yeast", and "Catalysis" meaning "loosening".
Process
Enzyme catalysis involves the breakdown of a substrate by an enzyme. The enzyme binds to the substrate at a region known as the Active Site. Once the enzyme and substrate are bound together, the substrate is modified in some way and released as a product. This process is often referred to as the Lock and Key Model.
Related Terms
- Active Site: The region of an enzyme where substrate molecules bind and undergo a chemical reaction.
- Substrate: A molecule upon which an enzyme acts.
- Product: The substance(s) which are produced by a reaction.
- Lock and Key Model: A model for the enzyme-substrate interaction suggesting that the enzyme and the substrate possess specific complementary geometric shapes that fit exactly into one another.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Enzyme catalysis
- Wikipedia's article - Enzyme catalysis
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