echemi logo
Product
  • Product
  • Supplier
  • Inquiry
    Home > What is an enzyme?

    What is an enzyme?

    • Last Update: 2020-04-03
    • Source: Internet
    • Author: User
    Search more information of high quality chemicals, good prices and reliable suppliers, visit www.echemi.com
    Enzyme has been used for hundreds of years, and its application has become more and more extensive This article will explain what an enzyme is and what it does Enzymes cut and paste nutrients and other substances They speed up important biological processes Enzymes in the stomach, for example, break down food into small pieces that can be converted into energy in the body When there is a need to turn one substance into another, nature uses enzymes to speed up the process Enzymes are very much like human workers When eating, enzymes break down food into pieces that can be turned into energy in the body The process starts in the mouth, where enzymes called amylases process all the food particles taken in Like trained engineers, different enzymes continue to break down food in the stomach and gut Food decomposition is an important step in the conversion of energy Undigested food is difficult to transmit internal energy The enzymes involved in the digestion process complete the final decomposition of food scraps, making it easy to transform into the energy needed by all parts of the body It can be said that without enzymes, even if we eat well, we will die of hunger When it's time to turn one substance into another, the body uses its own enzymes Enzymes can cut biomaterials into small pieces and reassemble them They can break down or build up all the things life needs in the body Enzymes are catalysts, which means they speed up biological reactions Without the help of enzymes, these necessary reactions can sometimes be difficult to occur As a catalyst, it also means that enzymes are not the end products, they just make things happen One of the unique features of enzymes is that they have only one function Each function or enzyme in an organism has its own unique enzyme Only when the right enzyme can find the right one will biochemical reaction take place Compared with other chemicals or biomolecules, enzymes are very stable catalysts At the same time, the enzyme can also play a role in low temperature and medium pH environment Most chemicals involved in the same process do not It is for this reason that enzymes are environmentally friendly solutions in the industrial field Enzyme is not an organism, just a biomolecule Enzymes are catalysts, which also means they don't become part of the end products of biochemical reactions At the end of the biological reaction, the enzyme will stay as the reaction product The enzyme then repeats the same effect on the reactions of other molecules If given appropriate conditions, the enzyme can continue to play a role Most industries produce waste When chemicals are used, these wastes pose a threat to the environment Enzymes can do the same thing in a cheaper and more environmentally friendly way Enzymes are part of nature and therefore can be completely degraded After the industrial enzyme completes the task, it will leave waste water to the factory Retired enzymes do not stay in the environment for a long time, because there are many microorganisms in nature that can easily decompose enzymes into single amino acids that can build life In fact, industrial enzymes do not produce harmful waste, so they are the most environmentally friendly solution Any part of the human body is made up of proteins From the largest muscle mass to the smallest hormone, nerve fibers or enzymes are made up of small protein molecules Protein contributes 80% of pure muscle weight, 70% of skin and 90% of blood Proteins are also building blocks for all organisms Whether it's human, animal, plant or microorganism, it's made of protein In human body, protein is very important for many cell functions, such as sending molecules into and out of cells There are many types of proteins, but they can be roughly divided into two categories The first category involves structural proteins and constitutes the main part of the human body Typical structural proteins are collagen, proteins that make up bones, tendons and ligaments, as well as keratin, nails, hair and hair The second type of protein involves biological processes, these are enzymes, and most of the catalytic biological reactions take place in cells All enzymes are proteins, and enzymes also catalyze all processes in the organism, making the organism form other proteins, carbohydrates or fats and other chemicals In short, all enzymes are proteins, but not all proteins are enzymes If a protein can catalyze a biological reaction, it is an enzyme Like other proteins, enzymes are made of amino acids Each enzyme consists of a long chain of amino acids, which are bound by chemical bonds Most enzymes consist of only 20 different amino acids The structure and function of enzymes are determined by the sequence of amino acids Each enzyme is different and has a unique amino acid sequence, which is determined by cell genes The enzyme consists of millions of amino acids linked together like pearls However, most enzymes do not look like long chains of amino acids, which are highly complex three-dimensional structures This is a chemical reaction between amino acids that forces the enzyme into a three-dimensional structure Each enzyme has its own unique three-dimensional structure, which determines its function Enzymes are macromolecules with hundreds of amino acids Only a small number of enzymes are involved in the catalytic biological reaction, which is called the active site The three-dimensional structure of enzyme determines the appearance of enzyme activity station.
    This article is an English version of an article which is originally in the Chinese language on echemi.com and is provided for information purposes only. This website makes no representation or warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness ownership or reliability of the article or any translations thereof. If you have any concerns or complaints relating to the article, please send an email, providing a detailed description of the concern or complaint, to service@echemi.com. A staff member will contact you within 5 working days. Once verified, infringing content will be removed immediately.

    Related Articles

    Contact Us

    The source of this page with content of products and services is from Internet, which doesn't represent ECHEMI's opinion. If you have any queries, please write to service@echemi.com. It will be replied within 5 days.

    Moreover, if you find any instances of plagiarism from the page, please send email to service@echemi.com with relevant evidence.